Martin wins French Grand Prix from seventh on grid as Aprilia sweep podium

[p]The Spaniard, who endured a forgettable 2025 season plagued by ‌crashes and injuries, overtook race leader [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bezzecchi-marco/EXzAZEse/"]Bezzecchi[/a] with three laps remaining to secure his first win since capturing the ‌2024 title.[/p][p][b]"It's unbelievable. I still can't say it enough times, because I'm so, so, ‌grateful to all the fans,"[/b] an emotional [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martin-jorge/zBBka6dR/"]Martin[/a] said.[/p][p][b]"But for sure I have to remember my family, ‌my team, my girlfriend, my dog - all the people that were with me all ‌this time. I don't have words!"[/b][/p][p]The victory moved Martin to within one point of championship leader Bezzecchi.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ogura-ai/A3AtM47b/"]Ai Ogura[/a] completed the podium in third for Aprilia's satellite team, Trackhouse, giving the Italian manufacturer its ‌first-ever podium sweep while he became the first Japanese rider ⁠on the podium in 14 years.[/p][p][b]"What can I ‌say, it just feels amazing... It was not an easy race, but good race pace, and I'm ​super happy," [/b]Ogura said.[/p][embed guid="636a9faf-55d5-4ef1-8d98-5ce035b2e27f" url="https://x.com/MotoGP/status/2053456918761423249" social-type="twitter" /][p]Ducati had another Sunday to forget with reigning champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marquez-marc/UPhfij2b/"]Marc Marquez[/a] missing the race after fracturing his foot in Saturday's sprint crash, while teammate ​and polesitter [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bagnaia-francesco/nahP9n9q/"]Francesco Bagnaia[/a] crashed in second place.[/p][p]Bagnaia had a poor start, allowing Bezzecchi to take the lead while home favourite [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/quartararo-fabio/UsfVoiLM/"]Fabio Quartararo[/a] moved up to second.[/p][p]Martin, unlike his lightning ⁠start in Saturday's sprint, where he ​jumped from eighth to first in two turns, could not make up places initially amid heavy traffic.[/p][p]But the dynamics shifted dramatically when Bagnaia, who had worked his way up to challenge for the lead, crashed at turn three on lap 16 while under pressure - his third Sunday retirement in ‌five rounds this season.[/p][h2]Martin hunts down Bezzecchi[/h2][p]Martin seized the opportunity, moving past KTM's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/acosta-pedro/KrGeaHq5/"]Pedro Acosta[/a] to second and then methodically hunting down Bezzecchi.[/p][p]Despite trailing by nearly three seconds at one point, Martin chipped away at the gap as the sun emerged from the clouds at an overcast Le Mans.[/p][p]Acosta's hopes of a third podium finish disappeared with four laps remaining when the late-race specialist Ogura slipped past the KTM rider, setting up Aprilia's historic sweep.[/p][embed guid="27410dce-b87c-49aa-b03c-782cf6df16d0" url="https://x.com/MotoGP/status/2053463413938847967" social-type="twitter" /][p]Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola could barely watch as the two factory riders battled for the lead.[/p][p]With the duo separated by a point after five rounds, he was not worried about any tension between them ‌in the garage, saying: [b]"They are smart people, they are fighters. As long as they respect ​each other, I'm fine."[/b][/p][p]As Martin took the chequered flag, he celebrated his breakthrough victory ‌with his trademark windscreen smash before mimicking France forward Kylian Mbappe's goal celebration, crossing his arms across his chest.[/p][p][b]"I'm still thinking about last year in Le Mans here, when Jorge wanted to leave (Aprilia), and I said, 'I think you can win with us.' So winning in Le Mans is quite special for me," [/b]Rivola added.[/p][p]In a final twist, Acosta ⁠was denied fourth place at the death ⁠when VR46 Racing's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/di-giannantonio-fabio/pI4o388M/"]Fabio Di Giannantonio[/a] ‌made a late lunge to steal the position with two corners remaining.[/p]