Bengaluru, October 11: Danilo Petrucci won the French Grand Prix ahead of podium debutant Alex Marquez, but the leading contenders for the 2020 FIM MotoGP World Championship title all struggled to make an impact at a soggy Le Mans on Sunday.
Petrucci claimed just the second win of his career in the premier class, coasting home in the closing laps following a titanic tussle for much of the race.
Pole-sitter Fabio Quartararo slipped back in the early stages but did extend his overall lead in the championship standings by finishing ninth.
The championship remains wide open heading to Aragon! 🙌@FabioQ20's championship lead is now 10 points with 19 covering the top four! 🔥#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/BiIvIa9wmu
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 11, 2020
MotoGP 2020: Quartararo storms to home pole at Le Mans as Mir struggles
Nearest rival Joan Mir had to settle for 11th place, with Maverick Vinales sandwiched between the pair.
🥇 @Petrux9 returns to winning ways as the title contenders struggle!@alexmarquez73 produces the race of his life to take 2nd from 18th on the grid! 👏@shark_helmets | #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/DcEvEqOig9
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 11, 2020
Rain had delayed the start but, once proceedings began, Ducati riders dominated in the wet conditions, at one stage threatening a 1-2-3 result.
Petrucci, Andrea Dovizioso and Jack Miller were those involved at the head of the field, eventually joined by Suzuki Ecstar's Alex Rins to seemingly set the platform for a four-way battle to the finish.
However, Miller veered off the track with eight laps remaining, dropping him down the field. The Australian was forced to retire soon after, much to his obvious frustration once he returned to the pits.
Rins' hopes did not last much longer, as a slip at the first chicane effectively ended his bid for victory. While able to get back on the bike and resume racing, he finished 16th.
Unpredictable. Unbelievable. Unmissable! 🙌@Petrux9 defies the odds through all the chaos in Le Mans! 🏆#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 https://t.co/kzJEnlg3yw
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 11, 2020
The sudden developments cleared the way for Petrucci - who is heading to KTM next year - to become the seventh different rider to win in the 2020 season, a much-needed success in what has been an otherwise difficult year for the Italian.
Marquez, meanwhile, produced a dazzling ride to move from his starting position at the back of the pack to second, easily his best result in a debut campaign for a Repsol Honda team minus the services of his injured brother, Marc.
Pol Espargaro denied Dovizioso third place, the latter having to hold off Johann Zarco to take fourth. Miguel Oliveira was sixth, ahead of Takaaki Nakagami, with Stefan Bradl a distant eighth.
(With Omnisport/MotoGP.com inputs)