Saturday’s sprint winner Jorge Martin finished second, just over four seconds behind the winner, while Martin’s Pramac Ducati teammate Johann Zarco was third to give the French fans something to cheer.

“It’s fantastic, I started very well,” Bezzecchi said. “I just tried to keep my rhythm, and I felt very good on the bike!”

Reigning champion Bagnaia was competing with Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales 22 laps from the end when contact on a risky overtaking move caused both riders to crash out of the race.

Tempers flared and Vinales confronted the championship leader and shoved him before the pair were separated.

On the same lap, Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez and Luca Marini of VR46 Ducati were involved in a crash, with Marquez emerging unscathed despite landing in the middle of the track.

Six-times world champion Marc Marquez looked on course for a second-placed finish, but pushed his Honda a little too far as he crashed out after making a mistake with two laps to go, opening the door for Martin and Zarco.

“I wanted to catch Marc, but I didn’t want to make any mistake, and fortunately Marc did,” Frenchman Zarco said.

“Pretty happy, podium here at the French GP and at the 1000th GP. It’s an honour.”

France’s 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo finished seventh.

French GP Results: 

1. Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati)

2. Jorge Martin (Ducati)

3. Johann Zarco (Ducati)

4. Augusto Fernandez (KTM)

5. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia)

6. Brad Binder (KTM)

7. Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha)

8. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati)

9. Takaaki Nakagami (Honda)

10. Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha)

11. Danilo Petrucci (Ducati)

12. Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia)

13. Jonas Folger (GasGas)

DNF: Marc Marquez (Honda) Jack Miller (KTM) Alex Rins (Honda) Joan Mir (Honda) Luca Marini (Ducati) Alex Marquez (Ducati) Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) Maverick Vinales (Aprilia)

Overall Riders’ Standings:

1. F. Bagnaia (Italy) Ducati 94

2 M. Bezzecchi (Italy) Ducati 93

3. B. Binder (South Africa) KTM 81

4. J. Martín (Spain) Ducati 80

5. J. Zarco (France) Ducati 66

6. L. Marini (Italy) Ducati 54

7. M. Viñales (Spain) Aprilia 49

8. J. Miller (Australia) KTM 49

9.F. Quartararo (France) Yamaha 49

10. Á. Rins (Spain) Honda 47

AAP