The first of three MotoGP events in May takes place at Le Mans for the French GP. The capital of the Sarthe department has already hosted 38 GPs, the first in 1969, when Giacomo Agostini lapped all his rivals in the 500cc class.
Last year, the spectators at the French GP totaled 311,797 over the weekend, setting a new record for the World Championship since MotoGP replaced the 500cc class.
GP Data
According to Brembo engineers, who for the 11th consecutive year work closely with all MotoGP teams, the 4.185 km long Le Mans track falls into the category of highly demanding circuits for brakes. On a scale from 1 to 6, it has earned a difficulty index of 4 due to the 10 braking sections per lap, totaling 31 and a half seconds, equivalent to 35 percent of the race. Two braking sections are classified as High and, moreover, are consecutive; 6 are Medium, and the remaining 2 are Light.
The toughest corner
The toughest corner of the Bugatti circuit for the braking system is turn 8, called Garage Vert because in 1955 a car workshop with a green logo was built nearby. At that point, MotoGP bikes go from 263 km/h to 78 km/h in 4.9 seconds, covering 209 meters while riders apply a load of 5.8 kg on the brake lever. The deceleration is 1.5 g, and the Brembo brake fluid pressure even reaches 12.4 bar.
The Hero of France
Last year, the French GP was one of the most thrilling races of the season, thanks to intermittent rain. The start was delayed by about ten minutes, and the race was declared wet, but many riders switched bikes multiple times, thinking they could use slick tires. Johann Zarco triumphed on the LCR Team Honda equipped with wet tires and Brembo carbon brakes. The last French rider to win the French GP in the premier class was Pierre Monneret in 1954.
Even in the rain
Brembo has been present in the premier class for 50 years and during this time has introduced numerous innovations. However, only in the last decade, thanks to the evolution of carbon, the increase in motorcycle power, and the refinement of tires, has it been possible to use Brembo carbon discs even in wet conditions: the combination of these elements has indeed increased the effort required of the brakes, allowing the necessary temperature range for carbon to work effectively and safely to be reached more quickly.
Honda and Ducati
Last year, Johann Zarco's triumph on Honda at the French GP interrupted Ducati's streak of 22 consecutive victories, a series that began at the Spanish GP 2024. Ducati thus equaled but did not surpass Honda's record, which in the 500cc class won all 15 GPs in 1997 and the first 7 of 1998. Brembo brakes are the only common element between the bikes responsible for the two winning streaks, even though in almost three decades, the evolution of braking systems has been remarkable, particularly in the shape, functionality, rigidity, and lightness of the calipers.