MotoGP Grand Prix of France 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders
The fifth race of the MotoGP season sees the action move to France on Sunday, with champion Marc Marquez leading the world standings by one point.
Spanish compatriot Alex Rins is in superb form for Suzuki after winning his first MotoGP race at the Grand Prix of Americas in April, and he will expect to challenge at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans.
Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso have also started the season in good shape, with both chasing maximum points at the famous French track.
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Race Schedule
Friday, May 17
FP1: 8:55 a.m BST/3:55 a.m. ET
FP2: 1:10 p.m BST/8:10 a.m. ET
Saturday, May 18
FP3: 8:55 a.m BST/3:55 a.m. ET
FP4: 12:30 p.m. BST/7:30 a.m. ET
O1: 1:10 p.m BST/8:10 a.m. ET
O2: 1:35 p.m. BST/8:35 a.m. ET
Sunday, May 19
WUP: 8:40 a.m BST/3:40 a.m. ET
Race: 1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET
Live-stream links: BT Sport App, beIN Sports Connect
Preview and Top Riders
It wasn't so long ago that Marquez was the new kid on the block, but at the age of 26, the racing phenomenon has a fresh challenger.
Rins made his MotoGP debut in 2017 and is beginning to display his raw talent at the highest level.
Achieving five podiums last term indicated what the 23-year-old could achieve this season if Suzuki provided him with the ammunition, and it appears the Spaniard is now a genuine contender.
According to Oriol Puigdemont and Valentin Khorounzhiy of Autosport, Marquez said there is little pressure on Rins to deliver early victories and this has helped his progress:
"His [Rins'] strongest point is that he doesn't have pressure at the moment. For sure it will arrive. It's true. At the moment if he finishes second, he's very happy; he finishes first, it's amazing; he finishes third, also he's happy. Now he's another opponent for the championship, he's ready to fight for the championship and the bike is too. It's important for the championship to have more manufacturers fighting for the title."
Marquez has won five world championships since 2013, and he desperately needs the pinch of a younger challenger nipping at his heels.
Rins appears happy with his bike, and the combination of man and machine has brought positivity to his team.
Per MotoGP's official Twitter account, the rider feels confident ahead of the forthcoming schedule:
The title race has quickly developed into a four-way tussle, with Italian duo Rossi and Dovizioso also vying for the top spots.
Dovizioso won the first race of the season in Qatar but has finished fourth in the last two events.
Rossi continues to further his legend, and the seven-time world champion appears as motivated as ever.
The 40-year-old made two of the first four podiums of the season, but his Yamaha might struggle to compete with Honda, Suzuki and Ducati as the season unfolds.
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