Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins had to strike a balance between pushing and tyre management in the 20-lap Grand Prix of Malaysia Race. They negotiated the Sepang International Circuit in 35°C, engaged in various battles, and ultimately took 5th and 13th place respectively.
Quartararo started from P4 and skilfully defended his position from Fermín Aldeguer on the opening lap. As a gap started to form to the top 3, the Frenchman focused solely on keeping chasing rivals at bay. On lap 6, Joan Mir launched an attack but ran wide. El Diablo anticipated as much and cut back on the inside, reclaiming fourth. A second attempt came on lap 10. This time El Diablo had a small moment and thus had to concede fourth place. Franco Morbidelli roughly pushed past Quartararo on lap 11. The number-20 couldn't respond as he had started to experience rear tyre drop. But it wasn't long before Quartararo was back in fifth when Francesco Bagnaia, after experiencing a problem, retired from the race with three laps to go. With sizable gaps to fourth and sixth over the final two laps, the Yamaha man took the chequered flag in P5, 11.556s from first.
Rins commenced from P10 and, after an opening battle with Brad Binder, wrapped up the first lap in 12th place. The Spaniard was keen to preserve his tyres. On lap 5, Pol Espargaró crashed out, but Rins was overtaken by three rivals and circulating in 16th place by lap 9. For the remainder of the race, the number-42 kept trying to find a balance between pushing and nursing his tyres. With Raúl Fernández and Aldeguer crashing out on lap 12 and 17 respectively and Bagnaia suffering an issue on lap 18, Rins moved up to 13th again. Riding a lonely race at that time, he held the position to the finish line, crossing it 23.509s from first.
After today's results, Quartararo stays in 9th place in the overall standings with 182 points, and Rins holds 19th position with 63 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP are 6th in the team championship with 245 points, and Yamaha remain in 5th position in the constructor championship with 221 points.
MotoGP will be back in action next in two weeks' time for the Grand Prix of Portugal, held at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve from 7-9 November.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins had to strike a balance between pushing and tyre management in the 20-lap Grand Prix of Malaysia Race. They negotiated the Sepang International Circuit in 35°C, engaged in various battles, and ultimately took 5th and 13th place respectively.
Quartararo started from P4 and skilfully defended his position from Fermín Aldeguer on the opening lap. As a gap started to form to the top 3, the Frenchman focused solely on keeping chasing rivals at bay. On lap 6, Joan Mir launched an attack but ran wide. El Diablo anticipated as much and cut back on the inside, reclaiming fourth. A second attempt came on lap 10. This time El Diablo had a small moment and thus had to concede fourth place. Franco Morbidelli roughly pushed past Quartararo on lap 11. The number-20 couldn't respond as he had started to experience rear tyre drop. But it wasn't long before Quartararo was back in fifth when Francesco Bagnaia, after experiencing a problem, retired from the race with three laps to go. With sizable gaps to fourth and sixth over the final two laps, the Yamaha man took the chequered flag in P5, 11.556s from first.
Rins commenced from P10 and, after an opening battle with Brad Binder, wrapped up the first lap in 12th place. The Spaniard was keen to preserve his tyres. On lap 5, Pol Espargaró crashed out, but Rins was overtaken by three rivals and circulating in 16th place by lap 9. For the remainder of the race, the number-42 kept trying to find a balance between pushing and nursing his tyres. With Raúl Fernández and Aldeguer crashing out on lap 12 and 17 respectively and Bagnaia suffering an issue on lap 18, Rins moved up to 13th again. Riding a lonely race at that time, he held the position to the finish line, crossing it 23.509s from first.
After today's results, Quartararo stays in 9th place in the overall standings with 182 points, and Rins holds 19th position with 63 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP are 6th in the team championship with 245 points, and Yamaha remain in 5th position in the constructor championship with 221 points.
MotoGP will be back in action next in two weeks' time for the Grand Prix of Portugal, held at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve from 7-9 November.