Maverick Vinales on pole for Le Mans as Johann Zarco secures front-row start

The legendary Le Mans circuit sizzled with excitement after two superb MotoGP qualifying sessions for the HJC French Grand Prix on Saturday.

Maverick Viñales took a stunning pole position ahead of Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi, a tenth splitting the pair, whilst local hero Johann Zarco stunned to snatch third at the last second from LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow.

The front-row start is Zarco's first since his promotion to MotoGP and probably not his last as he continues to impress.

Lining up alongside Crutchlow will be Honda's Marc Marquez and Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso as the top six were covered by less than eight-tenths.

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Scott Redding will start P7 despite a heavy crash during third practice with KTM's Pol Espargaro giving the Austrian factory their best ever qualifying to date in P8 – an awesome achievement in their first season, and with team-mate Bradley Smith also in the Q2 shootout and lining up in tenth.

Splitting the two KTM's is Karel Abraham for Aspar with Jack Miller (Marc VDS) and home favourite Loris Baz (Avintia) completing the top twelve.

Jerez winner Dani Pedrosa starts a disappointing P13, ahead of Alvaro Bautista and Jonas Folger to lock out the fastest fifteen. Le Mans’ most successful premier class rider on the grid, Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) faces a fight back on Sunday from sixteenth.