Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Riders’ Quotes after Qualifying Session in Argentina
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo have qualified in 4th and 10th place respectively for this afternoon’s Sprint and tomorrow’s Race at the Gran Premio de la República Argentina.
Termas de Río Hondo (Argentina), 1st April 2023
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo will start the Gran Premio de la República Argentina Sprint and Race from 4th and 10th position on the grid respectively.
Morbidelli needed little time to adapt to the tricky mixed conditions of the Autódromo Internacional de Termas de Río Hondo at the start of Q2. The Italian had his eyes set on a place on the front two rows and got to work. He held third place for most of the session but felt he could push even more on his second run. He stayed on wets and went top with a 1’45.982s set on lap 6/7. But, as the track dried, riders on slicks had the advantage after the chequered flag had already come out, pushing Morbido to fourth in the qualifying results, 2.101s from first.
The trickiness of a wet Q1 was undeniable, but it didn’t impair Quartararo’s efforts. Despite an early run-off on his sighting lap, he soon clocked a 1’47.397s to take over the top spot on only his second hot lap. As the pace quickened, the Frenchmen too gradually built up his confidence. He posted a 1’47.385s on lap 6/8 to hold on to second place and promote to Q2.
Already familiar with the track conditions, El Diablo had an advantage at the start of the second 15-minutes qualifying session. He was keen to salvage a good starting position after a difficult Friday and having come through Q1. A 1’47.122s set on lap 2/7 kept him in fourth place until the final stages. Unable to respond on wets as the track dried, Quartararo took tenth place, 3.241s from first.
Morbidelli needed little time to adapt to the tricky mixed conditions of the Autódromo Internacional de Termas de Río Hondo at the start of Q2. The Italian had his eyes set on a place on the front two rows and got to work. He held third place for most of the session but felt he could push even more on his second run. He stayed on wets and went top with a 1’45.982s set on lap 6/7. But, as the track dried, riders on slicks had the advantage after the chequered flag had already come out, pushing Morbido to fourth in the qualifying results, 2.101s from first.
The trickiness of a wet Q1 was undeniable, but it didn’t impair Quartararo’s efforts. Despite an early run-off on his sighting lap, he soon clocked a 1’47.397s to take over the top spot on only his second hot lap. As the pace quickened, the Frenchmen too gradually built up his confidence. He posted a 1’47.385s on lap 6/8 to hold on to second place and promote to Q2.
Already familiar with the track conditions, El Diablo had an advantage at the start of the second 15-minutes qualifying session. He was keen to salvage a good starting position after a difficult Friday and having come through Q1. A 1’47.122s set on lap 2/7 kept him in fourth place until the final stages. Unable to respond on wets as the track dried, Quartararo took tenth place, 3.241s from first.
Franco Morbidelli
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider
Fabio Quartararo
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider