View source for 1988 French motorcycle Grand Prix

{{Infobox Grand Prix motorcycle race report
| Grand Prix = French
| flag = France
| Official_Name = Grand Prix de France<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jumpingjack.nl/GP-races_1988_heden.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150725172956/http://www.jumpingjack.nl/GP-races_1988_heden.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2015|title=Alle Grand-Prix uitslagen en bijzonderheden, van 1973 (het jaar dat Jack begon met racen) tot heden.|website=archive.li|accessdate=17 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progcovers.com/motor/500cc1988.html|title=1988 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes - The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project|first=Malcolm|last=Mitchell|website=Progcovers.com|accessdate=17 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progcovers.com/motor/paulricard.html|title=Paul Ricard - The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project|first=Malcolm|last=Mitchell|website=Progcovers.com|accessdate=17 September 2018}}</ref>
| Location = [[Circuit Paul Ricard]]
| Image = Paul Ricard 1970.png
| Course_mi = 3.610
| Course_km = 5.809
| Race_No = 11
| Season_No = 15
| Date = 24 July
| Year = 1988
| Pole_Rider_500 = [[Christian Sarron]]
| Pole_Rider_500_Country = FRA
| Pole_Rider_500_Bike = [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]
| Pole_Time_500 = 1:58.810
| Fast_Rider_500 = [[Wayne Gardner]]
| Fast_Rider_500_Country = AUS
| Fast_Rider_500_Bike = [[Honda]]
| Fast_Time_500 = 1:59.027
| First_Rider_500 = [[Eddie Lawson]]
| First_Rider_500_Country = USA
| First_Rider_500_Bike = [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]
| Second_Rider_500 = [[Christian Sarron]]
| Second_Rider_500_Country = FRA
| Second_Rider_500_Bike = [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]
| Third_Rider_500 = [[Kevin Schwantz]]
| Third_Rider_500_Country = USA
| Third_Rider_500_Bike = [[Suzuki]]
| Pole_Rider_250 = [[Dominique Sarron]]
| Pole_Rider_250_Country = FRA
| Pole_Rider_250_Bike = [[Honda]]
| Pole_Time_250 = 2:04.030
| Fast_Rider_250 = [[Juan Garriga]]
| Fast_Rider_250_Country = ESP
| Fast_Rider_250_Bike = [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]
| Fast_Time_250 = 2:03.370
| First_Rider_250 = [[Jacques Cornu]]
| First_Rider_250_Country = SWI
| First_Rider_250_Bike = [[Honda]]
| Second_Rider_250 = [[Sito Pons]]
| Second_Rider_250_Country = ESP
| Second_Rider_250_Bike = [[Honda]]
| Third_Rider_250 = [[Dominique Sarron]]
| Third_Rider_250_Country = FRA
| Third_Rider_250_Bike = [[Honda]]
| Pole_Rider_125 = [[Ezio Gianola]]
| Pole_Rider_125_Country = ITA
| Pole_Rider_125_Bike = [[Honda]]
| Pole_Time_125 = 2:14.780
| Fast_Rider_125 = [[Jorge Martínez (motorcyclist)|Jorge Martínez]]
| Fast_Rider_125_Country = ESP
| Fast_Rider_125_Bike = [[Derbi]]
| Fast_Time_125 = 2:14.700
| First_Rider_125 = [[Jorge Martínez (motorcyclist)|Jorge Martínez]]
| First_Rider_125_Country = ESP
| First_Rider_125_Bike = [[Derbi]]
| Second_Rider_125 = [[Ezio Gianola]]
| Second_Rider_125_Country = ITA
| Second_Rider_125_Bike = [[Honda]]
| Third_Rider_125 = [[Corrado Catalano]]
| Third_Rider_125_Country = ITA
| Third_Rider_125_Bike = [[Aprilia]]
| Pole_Rider_Sidecar = [[Rolf Biland]]
| Pole_Rider_Sidecar_Country = SWI
| Pole_Rider_Sidecar_Bike = [[Louis Christen Racing|LCR]]-Krauser
| Pole_Passenger_Sidecar = [[Kurt Waltisperg]]
| Pole_Passenger_Sidecar_Country = SWI
| Fast_Rider_Sidecar = [[Rolf Biland]]
| Fast_Rider_Sidecar_Country = SWI
| Fast_Rider_Sidecar_Bike = [[Louis Christen Racing|LCR]]-Krauser
| Fast_Passenger_Sidecar = [[Kurt Waltisperg]]
| Fast_Passenger_Sidecar_Country = SWI
| First_Rider_Sidecar = [[Rolf Biland]]
| First_Rider_Sidecar_Country = SWI
| First_Passenger_Sidecar = [[Kurt Waltisperg]]
| First_Passenger_Sidecar_Country = SWI
| First_Rider_Sidecar_Bike = [[Louis Christen Racing|LCR]]-Krauser
| Second_Rider_Sidecar = [[Steve Webster (sidecar racer)|Steve Webster]]
| Second_Rider_Sidecar_Country = GBR
| Second_Passenger_Sidecar = [[Tony Hewitt (motorcyclist)|Tony Hewitt]]
| Second_Passenger_Sidecar_Country = GBR
| Second_Rider_Sidecar_Bike = [[Louis Christen Racing|LCR]]-Krauser
| Third_Rider_Sidecar = [[Markus Egloff]]
| Third_Rider_Sidecar_Country = SWI
| Third_Passenger_Sidecar = [[Urs Egloff]]
| Third_Passenger_Sidecar_Country = SWI
| Third_Rider_Sidecar_Bike = [[Louis Christen Racing|LCR]]-ADM
}}

The '''1988 French motorcycle Grand Prix''' was the eleventh round of the [[1988 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season]]. It took place on the weekend of 22–24 July 1988 at the 5.81&nbsp;km (3.61&nbsp;mi) [[Paul Ricard Circuit]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1988/FRA/500cc/RAC/Classification|title=Moto GP statistics|publisher=[[Moto GP]]|accessdate=2018-02-19}}</ref>

==500 cc race report==
Frenchman [[Christian Sarron]] claimed his 5th pole position in a row on his [[Yamaha YZR500]], and his last ever in 500 GP.

Like most of the mid-field, [[Niall Mackenzie]] ([[Honda NSR500|Honda]]) jumped the start and raced to the lead, but the race was allowed to continue and no penalties were handed out by race officials. On the 1.8&nbsp;km long Mistral Straight for the first time [[Wayne Gardner]] used the power of his factory [[Rothmans International#Sponsorship of motorsports|Rothmans]] Honda to shoot to the lead from [[Kevin Schwantz]] ([[Suzuki RGV500|Suzuki]]), Mackenzie and [[Wayne Rainey]] (Yamaha).

Gardner and pole sitter Sarron battled for the lead with Schwantz and [[Eddie Lawson]] (Yamaha), who was battling a shoulder injury suffered in the previous race in [[1988 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|Yugoslavia]] only one week before and had turned to famed [[Austrians|Austrian]] Willi Dungl to help him get fit to race. Gardner's Honda had the advantage on the Mistral Straight over all but Lawson's YZR500, but Lawson, Sarron and Schwantz had the advantage through the turns, though the Suzuki was clearly the slowest on the Pit and Mistral straights. The quartet gradually pulled away from Rainey, who in turn pulled away from a pack including [[Randy Mamola]] ([[Cagiva GP500|Cagiva]]), [[Didier de Radiguès]] (Yamaha), [[Pierfrancesco Chili]] (Honda) and [[Kevin Magee (motorcycle racer)|Kevin Magee]] (Yamaha).

Going into the last lap, Gardner had pulled out a two-second lead over the trio and looked set to win his fourth race in a row. However, going through the Courbe de Signes at the end of the Mistral his bike developed mechanical problems when a crankshaft bolt broke loose and found its way into the water pump, though he had a big enough gap over Wayne Rainey to struggle home in 4th place only 5.720 seconds behind Lawson. Gardner's breakdown allowed Lawson to win the race and extend his lead in the championship. Sarron consolidated his second place in the title race, finishing only 0.22 behind the American. In one of the closest top 3 finishes in history, Schwantz finished in 3rd place only 0.24 behind Sarron and less than half a second from winning. Schwantz came out of the final turn and knowing his bike didn't have the acceleration to pass, pulled a wheelie until after crossing the line and celebrated on the cool down lap for gaining an unexpected podium finish.

Wayne Gardner, back in the form that has seen him win the World Championship in [[1987 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1987]], had the consolation of setting the races fastest lap.

1988 was the final time that the [[French motorcycle Grand Prix]] would be held on the full length 5.81&nbsp;km (3.61&nbsp;mi) Paul Ricard circuit. When Grand Prix racing next returned to the circuit in [[1991 French motorcycle Grand Prix|1991]], the 3.812&nbsp;km (2.369&nbsp;mi) 'Club' circuit was used.

==500 cc classification==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Pos.
! Rider
! Team
! Manufacturer
! Time/Retired
! Points
|-
! 1
| {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Eddie Lawson]]'''
| '''Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini'''
| '''[[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]'''
| 42:15.520
| '''20'''
|-
! 2
| {{flagicon|FRA}} '''[[Christian Sarron]]'''
| '''Sonauto Gauloises Blondes Yamaha Mobil 1'''
| '''[[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]'''
| +0.220
| '''17'''
|-
! 3
| {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Kevin Schwantz]]'''
| '''Suzuki Pepsi Cola'''
| '''[[Suzuki]]'''
| +0.460
| '''15'''
|-
! 4
| {{flagicon|AUS}} '''[[Wayne Gardner]]'''
| '''Rothmans Honda Team'''
| '''[[Honda]]'''
| +5.720
| '''13'''
|-
! 5
| {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Wayne Rainey]]'''
| '''Team Lucky Strike Roberts'''
| '''[[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]'''
| +17.630
| '''11'''
|-
! 6
| {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Randy Mamola]]'''
| '''Cagiva Corse'''
| '''[[Cagiva]]'''
| +27.810
| '''10'''
|-
! 7
| {{flagicon|BEL}} '''[[Didier de Radiguès]]'''
| Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini
| '''[[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]'''
| +30.620
| '''9'''
|-
! 8
| {{flagicon|ITA}} '''[[Pierfrancesco Chili]]'''
| '''HB Honda Gallina Team'''
| '''[[Honda]]'''
| +30.870
| '''8'''
|-
! 9
| {{flagicon|AUS}} '''[[Kevin Magee (motorcycle racer)|Kevin Magee]]'''
| '''Team Lucky Strike Roberts'''
| '''[[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]'''
| +35.110
| '''7'''
|-
! 10
| {{flagicon|GBR}} '''[[Ron Haslam]]'''
| '''Team ROC Elf Honda'''
| '''[[Honda|Elf Honda]]'''
| +35.310
| '''6'''
|-
! 11
| {{flagicon|GBR}} '''[[Rob McElnea]]'''
| '''Suzuki Pepsi Cola'''
| '''[[Suzuki]]'''
| +59.870
| '''5'''
|-
! 12
| {{flagicon|AUS}} '''[[Malcolm Campbell (motorcyclist)|Malcolm Campbell]]'''
| '''Team ROC Elf Honda'''
| '''[[Honda|Elf Honda]]'''
| +1:19.040
| '''4'''
|-
! 13
| {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Mike Baldwin (motorcyclist)|Mike Baldwin]]'''
| '''Racing Team Katayama'''
| '''[[Honda]]'''
| +1:42.640
| '''3'''
|-
! 14
| {{flagicon|ITA}} '''[[Alessandro Valesi]]'''
| '''Team Iberia'''
| '''[[Honda]]'''
| +1:46.140
| '''2'''
|-
! 15
| {{flagicon|SMR}} '''[[Fabio Barchitta]]'''
| '''Racing Team Katayama'''
| '''[[Honda]]'''
| +2:02.540
| '''1'''
|-
! 16
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Donnie McLeod (motorcyclist)|Donnie McLeod]]
| Racing Team Katayama
| [[Honda]]
| +1 Lap
| 
|-
! 17
| {{flagicon|CHE}} [[Marco Gentile (motorcyclist)|Marco Gentile]]
| Fior Marlboro
| Fior
| +1 Lap
| 
|-
! 18
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Marco Papa]]
| Team Greco
| [[Honda]]
| +1 Lap
| 
|-
! 19
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Fabio Biliotti]]
| Team Amoranto
| [[Honda]]
| +1 Lap
| 
|-
! 20
| {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Manfred Fischer (motorcyclist)|Manfred Fischer]]
| Team Hein Gericke
| [[Honda]]
| +1 Lap
| 
|-
! 21
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Eddie Laycock]]
| Millar Racing
| [[Honda]]
| +1 Lap
| 
|-
! 22
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Claude Arciero]]
| 
| [[Honda]]
| +1 Lap
| 
|-
! 23
| {{flagicon|CHE}} [[Nicholas Schmassman]]
| FMS
| [[Honda]]
| +1 Lap
| 
|-
! 24
| {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Maarten Duyzers]]
| HDJ International
| [[Honda]]
| +1 Lap
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Patrick Igoa]]
| Sonauto Gauloises Blondes Yamaha Mobil 1
| [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]
| Retirement
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Rachel Nicotte]]
| PVI Racing
| [[Honda]]
| Retirement
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Daniel Amatriain]]
| Ducados Lotus Guarz
| [[Honda]]
| Retirement
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Thierry Rapicault]]
| 
| Fior
| Retirement
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|CHE}} [[Bruno Kneubühler]]
| Romer Racing Suisse
| [[Honda]]
| Retirement
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Josef Doppler (motorcyclist)|Josef Doppler]]
| MRC Grieskirchen
| [[Honda]]
| Retirement
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|CHE}} [[Wolfgang von Muralt]]
| 
| [[Suzuki]]
| Retirement
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Niall Mackenzie]]
| Team HRC
| [[Honda]]
| Retirement
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shunji Yatsushiro]]
| Rothmans Honda Team
| [[Honda]]
| Retirement
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Raymond Roche]]
| [[Cagiva]]
| Retirement
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jean Luc Demierre]]
| 
| [[Suzuki]]
| Retirement
| 
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Vittorio Scatola]]
| Road Racing Team Avia
| [[Suzuki]]
| Retirement
| 
|-
! DNS
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Eric Sabatier]]
| Weigl Telefix Racing Team
| [[Honda]]
| Did not start
| 
|-
! DNQ
| {{flagicon|LUX}} [[Andreas Leuthe]]
| 
| [[Suzuki]]
| Did not qualify
| 
|-
! DNQ
| {{flagicon|VEN|1930}} [[Larry Moreno Vacondio]]
| 
| [[Suzuki]]
| Did not qualify
| 
|-
! DNQ
| {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Ari Ramo]]
| 
| [[Honda]]
| Did not qualify
| 
|-
! DNQ
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Claude Albert]]
| 
| [[Suzuki]]
| Did not qualify
| 
|-
! DNQ
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Patrick Leruste]]
| 
| [[Suzuki]]
| Did not qualify
| 
|-
! DNQ
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Bernard Andrault]]
| 
| [[Honda]]
| Did not qualify
| 
|-
! DNQ
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Vincenzo Cascino]]
| 
| [[Honda]]
| Did not qualify
| 
|-
! DNQ
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Christian Polard]]
| 
| [[Honda]]
| Did not qualify
| 
|-
!colspan=8| Sources: <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1988-french-motogp|title=1988 French MotoGP - Motor Sport Magazine Database|date=13 June 2017|website=Motorsportmagazine.com|accessdate=17 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1988/FRA/500cc/RAC/|title=FRENCH GRAND PRIX · 500cc Race Classification 1988|website=Motogp.com|accessdate=17 September 2018}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4LXw7vLjQA 1988 French Motorcycle Grand Prix]

{{MotoGP_race_report
| Name_of_race = [[French motorcycle Grand Prix]]
| Year_of_race = 1988
| Previous_race_in_season = [[1988 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|1988 Yugoslavian Grand Prix]]
| Next_race_in_season = [[1988 British motorcycle Grand Prix|1988 British Grand Prix]]
| Previous_year's_race = [[1987 French motorcycle Grand Prix|1987 French Grand Prix]]
| Next_year's_race = [[1989 French motorcycle Grand Prix|1989 French Grand Prix]]
}}

[[Category:French motorcycle Grand Prix]]
[[Category:1988 MotoGP race reports|French]]
[[Category:1988 in French motorsport|Motorcycle Grand Prix]]
[[Category:July 1988 sports events in Europe|French motorcycle Grand Prix]]