Grand Prix France: Johann Zarco 'fairytale' win leaves fellow Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli speechless - 'We've waited such a long time'

Johann Zarco astonished and delighted the home crowd at Le Mans in equal measure when he stormed to a magnificent Grand Prix France win on Sunday. Victory saw the 34-year-old become the first French winner at his home race since 1954, leaving TNT Sports expert Sylvain Guintoli stunned. "It's like a fairytale," he said. "We have been waiting for this for such a long time."

Johann Zarco’s underdog victory at Le Mans was described as "a fairytale" by Sylvain Guintoli after he became the first Frenchman to win the Grand Prix France for 71 years.

The unfancied Honda rider stormed through the field on a slippery course to take a dominant victory by 20 seconds over MotoGP Championship leader Marc Marquez.

In doing so, Zarco became the first French rider to win the French GP since 1954 and the first ever to win on the iconic Le Mans track.

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The historic feat was an emotional moment for TNT Sports expert and Frenchman Guintoli.

"It is huge. We have been waiting for this for such a long time," Guintoli said on TNT Sports’ MotoGP coverage.  

"We’ve had motorcycle racing as a sport in France growing so much over the last 20-25 years, and now we have come to this pinnacle of motorcycle racing in France, MotoGP.

'This will crown it!' - Zarco lands spectacular backflip to celebrate Grand Prix France triumph

Video credit: TNT Sports

"(It is) the biggest attendance ever, more than 300,000 people over the weekend, and we get a French winner. And it was a thriller as well. The race was unreal. I’ve lost my voice.  

"I don’t know what to say. It’s like a fairytale. I want to say a big thank you to Johann for making it happen."

• Zarco rises above rain and chaos to deliver fairytale Le Mans win in front of French fans
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‘Le Mans brought out the brilliance’

Michael Laverty was also overjoyed by Zarco’s victory, which the Honda rider celebrated with a trademark backflip in front of a jubilant home crowd.

The TNT Sports expert believes that the experience of the Frenchman showed as he mastered the wet conditions better than his rivals.      

"Today it was the magic of Le Mans that brought out the brilliance of Johann Zarco and the fairytale was written," Laverty said.

'The magic of Le Mans' - Laverty delighted with Zarco triumph

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It had to happen with the record crowd this weekend, the weather turning. Johann has been such a good wet-weather rider throughout his career.

"He rolled the dice, went for the wet tyres, he was through the gravel. But once he controlled the race all the way to the end, it was written in the stars.

"The crowd absolutely adore this Frenchman today. What a delivery, what a performance."

Zarco – ‘It’s hard to believe’

Zarco himself admitted after the race that he was still in disbelief at what he had achieved.  

It was just the second MotoGP race win of his career and his first as a Honda rider, a result that propelled him within two points of the top five in the standings.

‘Zarco’s wait is over! France’s wait is over!’ - Frenchman triumphs in front of home crowd

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It is hard to believe, I still don’t understand what is happening," Zarco said.

"The last laps were very long, and I need some time, but it is just magic.

"With the rain tyres in the beginning, we had to control as I didn’t want to burn my rear tyre, then more rain came."

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