Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Riders Experience First 2026 Racing Action in Thailand Sprint

Today's Grand Prix of Thailand Sprint gave MotoGP fans the first racing action of the 2026 season. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo lost some ground in the early stages but recovered to P16 in the final laps. Álex Rins was running in P16 for the majority of the 13 laps, but the order was reshuffled in the last lap. He crossed the finish line in P18.

GRAND PRIX OF THAILAND

SPRINT

Buriram (Thailand), 28th February 2026

16th

F. Quartararo
+15.079 / 13 LAPS

18th

Á. Rins
+15.876 / 13 LAPS

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team got a first taste of 2026 MotoGP racing action in today's Grand Prix of Thailand Sprint. Fabio Quartararo had a difficult opening lap, but he recovered to P16 in the final two laps. Álex Rins had a solid start but lost some positions in the end and wrapped up the 13-lap dash in 18th.

Quartararo started from P16 but struggled to get off the mark and was riding in 19th position after the first lap. The Frenchman was able to make up ground in the latter stages. As Toprak Razgatlıoğlu dropped down the order two laps before the end, El Diablo was on the move. He kept his head down and gained two further positions when he overtook Rins and Enea Bastianini on the final lap to end the Sprint in 16th place.

Rins made progress in the first lap. Commencing the Sprint from P19, he got up to P16 and held the position for the majority of the ride. The Spaniard was chasing fellow Yamaha riders Jack Miller and Razgatlıoğlu. With three laps to go, the latter took a fall, and Franco Morbidell got through on Rins. It meant the number-42 remained in 16th place until a duel on the final lap ultimately resulted in the Yamaha man taking the chequered flag in P18.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team will be back in action tomorrow for Warm Up, held from 10:40-10:50 GMT +7, and the 26-lap Race, which starts at 15:00.

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MASSIMO MEREGALLI
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Director

"We knew that this first Sprint race was going to be very difficult. This is expected when you start a completely new project in a championship as competitive as MotoGP. Our team got two completely different stories: Fabio struggled at the start but gained some positions at the end, while Alex moved up the order in the early stages but lost some places in the final lap. The most important thing now is to carefully check our acquired qualifying and race data with the new bike – which are different from testing and practice sessions – so we can start developing accordingly. We expect tomorrow's Race to be tough: 26 laps in this heat is a challenge for both man and machine, but it will again be a useful source of information for us."

FABIO QUARTARARO
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

"We are struggling with the start here. I was in last place after the first corner, and when you're at the back it's difficult to overtake. I know that I struggle a bit more with the pace when I'm in a group because I make the difference on corner entry. In a practice session you can ride alone and in a different way. With people ahead of you it's completely different, and that's why in a race it is always more difficult."

ÁLEX RINS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

"It was as difficult as I expected. It was really tough on track in this heat. I'm quite happy about my start: I was able to recover some positions. It was my best start with this bike so far. It was kind of great. But it was difficult to overtake. On the last lap, I was trying to defend my position from Bastianini. When we arrived in the braking area of corner 3, it was like 'Let's see who brakes later', but we both went wide. Then Fabio overtook us, and we finished like this."