Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP

Determined Sprint Effort Yields Mixed Results for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Duo

Sunny but low-grip conditions at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya proved challenging for the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team. Fabio Quartararo started from P7 but dropped back to finish in 13th, while Álex Rins made progress from P19 on the grid to cross the line in 15th place.

GRAND PRIX OF CATALUNYA

SPRINT

Montmeló (Catalonia), 16th May 2026

13th

F. Quartararo
+10.042 / 12 LAPS

15th

Á. Rins
+14.166 / 12 LAPS

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo struggled to find pace in the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya Sprint and wrapped it up in P13. Coming from P19 on the grid, Álex Rins was pushing for the entire 12 laps to secure P15 just before the finish line.

Quartararo launched from P7 and rode in eighth place before dropping down to P10 at the start of lap 2. Despite a rival crashing ahead of him, El Diablo gradually fell back to P13 on the final lap. He crossed the finish line with a 10.042s gap to first.

Rins commenced the Sprint from P19 and climbed up to P17 on the opening lap. The number 42 benefitted from a crash by Jorge Martin on lap 3 while the Yamaha rider was trying to close the gap to two riders ahead of him fighting for P14. He was all over the back of Jack Miller's bike on the penultimate lap and found a way through on the last lap. He took the chequered flag in 15th place, 14.166s from the winner.

Today's results see Quartararo in 16th place in the championship standings with 26 points. Rins is in 19th with 7 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP are in 10th position in the team classifications with 33 points, and Yamaha is fifth in the constructor rankings with 29 points.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team will be back in action on Sunday for Warm Up, held from 09:40-09:50 (GMT+2), and the 24-lap Race, which starts at 14:00.

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MASSIMO MEREGALLI
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Director

"Today was a difficult Saturday for us. Fabio did well in qualifying to take P7 at a track where the times are so close together. He also had a solid start to the Sprint but struggled to defend his position. He tried his hardest to make the most of our package, which was P13 for him today. Álex was able to fight back from P19 on the grid to take P15 on the final lap. Unfortunately, we didn't have the performance needed to compete for points today. We'll analyse everything carefully tonight. We expect tomorrow's Race to be tricky as well because of the lack of grip in these cooler than normal conditions for the Catalan GP."

FABIO QUARTARARO
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

"In qualifying, I was a bit impressed by my lap. But, as we know, riding alone versus riding in a group is different. Our pace here is not fantastic. I was, of course, still giving it my best effort, but I knew that being inside the points would be tough today. Tomorrow, with the Moto2 rubber on track, I expect that the grip level will be lower, which we know are riding conditions that are difficult for us. But we will do our best anyway."

ÁLEX RINS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

"It was a difficult day again. We have to manage the throttle very carefully here and ride in a different way. We are missing grip, but more so rear than front. I'm hoping that using the medium rear will help a little bit tomorrow. Stopping the bike will be a bit more difficult, but the tyre drop will be less."