
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Grit Teeth in Difficult British GP Sprint

It was a Saturday to forget for the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team. Franco Morbidelli had a difficult start to the 10-lap Sprint at the wet Silverstone circuit but salvaged a 15th place. Fabio Quartararo started from P22 and struggled to gain momentum. He finished in P21.
Silverstone (UK), 5th August 2023
Rain dampened the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team’s hopes of making waves on the Monster Energy British Grand Prix Super Saturday. After a tricky qualifying, the conditions remained wet for the afternoon’s 10-lap Sprint. Franco Morbidelli let the conditions come to him and, after a difficult opening, rode from P18 to P15. Fabio Quartararo had to start from the back of the grid and didn’t feel in his element. He wrapped up the Sprint in 21st place.
Morbidelli found himself squashed in the busy mid-pack on the opening lap of the 10-lap Sprint. He settled into 16th place before getting into a tussle with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Raul Fernandez. Relegated to 18th, the Italian responded. He overtook Marc Marquez with six laps remaining and began to challenge Pol Espargaró for 16th on the next lap. In the end the Italian came out victorious. With one lap to go, he made a spurt past Raul Fernandez to grab 15th place. He held the position until the chequered flag, finishing 27.191s from first.
Quartararo initially had a good start from P22 and gained two positions on the opening lap, but then he had a moment and crossed the start-finish straight for the first time in 22nd place. The Frenchman had to start from scratch again. He managed to pick up a place by overtaking Iker Lecuona but was unable to get hold of Takaaki Nakagami ahead of him. The Yamaha man ended the Sprint in 21st place, 30.326s from the race leader.
Today’s results put Quartararo in 10th in the overall standings with 64 points. Morbidelli is now in 12th place with 57 points. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team stay in 6th place in the team championship with 121 points, and Yamaha remain 5th in the constructor’s championship with 82 points.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammates will be back in action tomorrow for Warm Up at 09:45 local track time (GMT +1) and the Race at 13:00.
Morbidelli found himself squashed in the busy mid-pack on the opening lap of the 10-lap Sprint. He settled into 16th place before getting into a tussle with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Raul Fernandez. Relegated to 18th, the Italian responded. He overtook Marc Marquez with six laps remaining and began to challenge Pol Espargaró for 16th on the next lap. In the end the Italian came out victorious. With one lap to go, he made a spurt past Raul Fernandez to grab 15th place. He held the position until the chequered flag, finishing 27.191s from first.
Quartararo initially had a good start from P22 and gained two positions on the opening lap, but then he had a moment and crossed the start-finish straight for the first time in 22nd place. The Frenchman had to start from scratch again. He managed to pick up a place by overtaking Iker Lecuona but was unable to get hold of Takaaki Nakagami ahead of him. The Yamaha man ended the Sprint in 21st place, 30.326s from the race leader.
Today’s results put Quartararo in 10th in the overall standings with 64 points. Morbidelli is now in 12th place with 57 points. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team stay in 6th place in the team championship with 121 points, and Yamaha remain 5th in the constructor’s championship with 82 points.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammates will be back in action tomorrow for Warm Up at 09:45 local track time (GMT +1) and the Race at 13:00.
Massimo Meregalli
Team Director
Franco Morbidelli
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider
Fabio Quartararo
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider