
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Face Uphill Battle in Catalan GP Sprint

It was a Saturday to forget for the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya round. Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo continued to look for grip at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. They finished the Sprint in 15th and 18th place respectively.
Montmeló (Catalunya), 2nd September 2023
With dark clouds looming, the atmosphere was tense on the starting grid of the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya Sprint. Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo had spent the earlier Saturday sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya looking for better grip. As rain flags were coming out just as all riders started the warm-up lap, the Yamaha duo knew they had to tread with care in the opening laps on cold tyres. They rode to 15th and 18th place respectively.
Starting from P16, Morbidelli found himself in the busy mid-pack as all 22 riders turned in for the first corner. He was battling with various rivals but ultimately settled into 20th place. Once the Italian got into a rhythm, he was moving up the rankings. With four laps to go, the Yamaha rider was back in 16th position. He then took on Augusto Fernandez and came out victorious. He held 15th place as he took the chequered flag, 16.207s from the race leader.
Quartararo started from P17, but to avoid other riders, he ran a bit wide into Turn 1 and found himself in 21st place by the end of the opening lap. He overtook Takaaki Nakagami and Iker Lecuona, but by the time he was in 18th position, there was a big gap to the group of three ahead of him. He was unable to close in on them and finished the Sprint in 18th place, 17.147s from first.
Today’s results see Quartararo still in 11th in the overall standings with 73 points. Morbidelli remains in 12th place with 65 points. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team stay in 6th place in the team championship with 138 points, and Yamaha remain joint 4th in the constructor’s championship with 93 points.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammates will be back in action tomorrow for Warm Up at 09:45 local track time (GMT +2) and the Race at 14:00.
Starting from P16, Morbidelli found himself in the busy mid-pack as all 22 riders turned in for the first corner. He was battling with various rivals but ultimately settled into 20th place. Once the Italian got into a rhythm, he was moving up the rankings. With four laps to go, the Yamaha rider was back in 16th position. He then took on Augusto Fernandez and came out victorious. He held 15th place as he took the chequered flag, 16.207s from the race leader.
Quartararo started from P17, but to avoid other riders, he ran a bit wide into Turn 1 and found himself in 21st place by the end of the opening lap. He overtook Takaaki Nakagami and Iker Lecuona, but by the time he was in 18th position, there was a big gap to the group of three ahead of him. He was unable to close in on them and finished the Sprint in 18th place, 17.147s from first.
Today’s results see Quartararo still in 11th in the overall standings with 73 points. Morbidelli remains in 12th place with 65 points. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team stay in 6th place in the team championship with 138 points, and Yamaha remain joint 4th in the constructor’s championship with 93 points.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammates will be back in action tomorrow for Warm Up at 09:45 local track time (GMT +2) and the Race at 14:00.
Massimo Meregalli
Team Director
Franco Morbidelli
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider
Fabio Quartararo
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider