Pit stop in Paris for Zarco, Lorenzo, Quartararo

Ahead of this weekend's French MotoGP at Le Mans home heroes Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco, plus Repsol Honda's Jorge Lorenzo stopped off in Paris to help publicise the event.

Tuesday saw Quartararo take a trip through the Metro to visit the world-famous Moulin Rouge where he met up with Zarco, who had been filming at the Champs-Elysees.

The next morning the pair headed to the Eiffel Tower, where they were joined by triple MotoGP champion Lorenzo.

Rookie Quartararo, on pole last time at Jerez and France's best hope of a home MotoGP podium this weekend, insisted he won't be distracted by the extra attention leading up to Le Mans.

"I think I’m kind of different to other people who take the focus. A lot of people must be calm, thinking totally about the race but I’m completely the opposite," he said.

"I have to do a lot of activities, not think a lot about the race and I think it’s good to have an event in Paris and, of course, at the Eiffel Tower!

"I’m feeling good. Of course we will try to do our best in the French GP, but it was good to get back on the bike after [the technical problem on] Sunday, and the Monday test [at Jerez] was really positive."

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Zarco has carried the home hopes of the Le Mans fans for the past two seasons, but is having a tough time so far on his new factory KTM.

"Pretty nice event in Paris, we have fantastic weather again in Paris, and 'working' in Paris streets, big avenues, in our leathers with the bike near to the Eiffel tower is a special feeling we can't have every day," he said.

"…and yesterday in the Moulin Rouge it was a fantastic show and I enjoyed it a lot so the whole thing has made me smile and has almost made me forget the French GP! But on Friday I'll be back on the bike, happy to be there and happy I've done some tests here before so it'll help me have as good pace as possible from FP1."

Likewise, Repsol Honda's Lorenzo is still seeking a breakthrough with his new machine.

"It's always nice to see this monument, more than 100 years of history and still looks so young!" Lorenzo said. "It's wonderful, and together with Johann and Fabio and the bikes. it's a nice event and hopefully it'll bring me some luck for the weekend.

"The first four races have been difficult to get results, to be competitive. but in the Jerez test we found some details that will probably give us more speed and hopefully we can show it here at this track."