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Marquez on the podium? Alex grabs second place in French MotoGP, Binder 12th

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Alex Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Honda celebrates second place on the podium at the end of the MotoGP race during the MotoGP of France. Image:Mirco Lazzari / Getty.
Alex Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Honda celebrates second place on the podium at the end of the MotoGP race during the MotoGP of France. Image:Mirco Lazzari / Getty.

• The MotoGP race at the Bugatti circuit saw riders dealing with difficult wet conditions. 

• Honda rider Alex Marquez had never ridden a MotoGP bike in the wet before the race in Le Mans. 

• Despite starting in 18th place, the 24-year-old Spanish rider secured his first podium finish. 

Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez would've been impressed by his younger brother Alex's performance at the Bugatti circuit for the French MotoGP. 

Alex rode to his first podium finish in appalling wet conditions in Le Mans and capped off a remarkable race in which he started 18th on the grid.

In what was supposed to be a fairy tale season for the Marquez brothers who are also team mates, hasn't gone as planned due to Marc fracturing his arm in the opening race earlier this year. 

Alex showed composure to bring home the Honda in second place despite not having ridden a MotoGP bike in wet conditions. He performed numerous overtakes and knew exactly when to attack his rivals. 

It was an utter masterclass performance by the rookie who scored the team's first podium finish of 2020. The race was won by Danilo Petrucci who held off Marquez in the final few laps to take his first victory of the season. 

It was a disappointing home race for standings leader and favourite Fabio Quartararo who started on pole position. The Yamaha rider struggled in the conditions like several other on the same make of bike but managed to hold onto the championship lead despite finishing in ninth.

South Africa's Brad Binder finished in 12th place on his KTM and lies 11th on the riders' standings with 62 points. The win for Petrucci was only his second victory in 146 MotoGPs while fellow Italian Valentino Rossi only lasted three corners into the race before crashing out. 

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