MotoGP: Vinales wins Le Mans, leads championship

For the first time this year, Valentino Rossi had the measure of Maverick Vinales. For the first time, he battled for the lead and was winning the battle. Then, two corners from the finish line, he lost the rear and that was the end of it. No points, no championship lead; nothing. 

The MotoGP universe maintained its balance, though - Johann Zarco rode a dream race in front of his home crowd to finish second. He led for a while, but the factory Yamahas proved too much for him. Dani Pedrosa finished third, while Marc Marquez crashed out - a little more of that balance, perhaps. Crutchlow finished in fifth, just behind fourth-placed Dovizioso, and Lorenzo finished sixth. Rossi later admitted that looking at the data from the crash gave him no answers. 

Maverick is back in the championship lead, 23 points clear of Rossi. They head next to Mugello, Rossi's home race. It isn't often that you consider a nine-time world champion an underdog, but that's exactly what Rossi is. Here's to hoping for a little more of his Sunday magic next time out.