Quartararo and Rins Secure P4 & P8 Battling in Fierce French GP Sprint

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team was showing competitive performance on the Michelin Grand Prix de France Saturday. Quartararo secured a second-consecutive pole position in today's Q2 by setting a new All Time Lap Record in Le Mans, repeating his feat from a fortnight ago in Jerez. The Frenchman was cheered on by the crowds who rallied behind their home hero, further boosting his confidence for the Sprint. After a fierce battle, he finished it just off the podium in P4. Álex Rins gained positive momentum on the second day of the French GP. Having qualified in P14 in a very competitive Q1 session, he rallied to P8, taking his first Sprint points of the season.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team enjoyed an upwards trajectory on the Michelin Grand Prix de France Saturday. Fabio Quartararo secured a stellar pole by setting an All Time Lap Record at the Le Mans Bugatti Circuit. He went on to fight determinedly in the 13-lap Sprint to take fourth place and 6 points. Álex Rins showed true professionalism bouncing back from a challenging Friday to ride from P14 to P8 in the Saturday Sprint and earning himself two points.

Quatararo had a lightning start to the Sprint and took the holeshot ahead of the Marquez brothers. Over the first sector, he gained a 0.7s advantage, but it wasn't to last. Marc Marquez managed to catch up by lap 4. On lap 6, a first attack came from Marc Marquez, but El Diablo retaliated successfully. However, he wasn't able to immediately answer a second attack. Alex Marquez had joined them in the meantime, making it key for the Yamaha man to ride defensively. He made his M1 as wide as possible but was delegated to third by lap 8 and found himself battling with Fermin Aldeguer a lap later. Quartararo was throwing everything at it but ultimately had to relinquish third place and his podium hopes on lap 10. There was still no rest for the home hero, though. More rivals were rapidly approaching, so the number 20 had to put the hammer down all the way to the chequered flag to secure fourth place, 2.840s from the winner.

Rins' Saturday at the Le Mans track was much more positive than the Friday. He started the Sprint well from P14 and showed a solid pace. Putting in overtakes while multiple rivals crashed out, saw him rise up the rankings rapidly and had him reach eighth place by lap 4. He spent the majority of the dash for points stalking Johann Zarco but did not get close enough to make a pass. All the while, Fabio Di Giannantonio was right behind him. The Yamaha man did a good job keeping him at bay until the penultimate lap, when the Italian got through. However, with Pedro Acosta taking a fall on the final lap, Rins still crossed the finish line in eighth place, 8.930s from first.

Today's results see Quartararo hold 6th place in the overall standings with 56 points. Rins is joint 16th with 19 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP are in 4th place in the team championship with 75 points, and Yamaha stay in 2nd position in the constructor championship with 68 points.

On the French GP Sunday, the teammates will start the track action with the Warm Up held from 09:40-09:50 (GMT+2), followed by the 27-lap Race starting at 14:00.