Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP |News details:Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Start Work on Mixed Brno Friday

Pictures for editorial use only
Copyright 2025 Yamaha Motor Racing Srl

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP riders Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins faced tricky conditions when they returned to action at the Automotodrom Brno today, with the FP1 session being mixed and the Practice session mostly fully wet. They ultimately secured 3rd and 14th place respectively in the Practice results.

Brno (Czech Republic), 18th July 2025

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team kicked off the Grand Prix of Czechia today at the Automotodrom Brno circuit in mixed conditions in the morning and on a fully wet track for most of the afternoon. Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins used the available time to adjust their riding and bike set-ups to the various conditions thrown at them. They rode to 3rd and 14th place respectively in the Practice timesheets in the afternoon.

Quartararo focused on race pace in the morning and wrapped up FP1 in 11th when the track was dry. However, in the afternoon the circuit was drenched with rain. The Frenchman was ready to push regardless. The number-20 rider spent a large part of the Practice featuring inside the top 3. With less than 10 minutes left on the clock, the track started to dry out and the time attacks began, but the hot laps didn't threaten the Yamaha man's position. His 2'04.465, set on lap 14/20, kept him in third, 0.530s from first, earning him a place in tomorrow's Q2.

Rins had a positive morning session. Though the track conditions changed throughout the 45 minutes, he managed to adapt and set the ninth-fastest time. He was hoping to keep the momentum going but struggled in the wetter Practice session to find the same feeling, and he lost time due to a small problem with his first bike. On his second bike in the final stages, the Spaniard managed to improve his time with a 2'05.473s, posted on lap 18/18, but it wasn't quite enough. He ended the first day in 14th position in the Practice classifications, 1.538s off today's fastest time, and he will take part in tomorrow's Q1.

The teammates will be back in action for FP2 held tomorrow from 10:10-10:40 (GMT+2). The qualifying sessions will follow from 10:50-11:30, and the 10-lap Sprint will start at 15:00.

Massimo Meregalli

Team Director, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP

"We're happy to be back in action in Brno, but we had expected better weather for the Friday. The morning session was especially tricky because the track conditions were gradually changing, which makes it difficult to test anything or lock down a setting. That said, both Fabio and Álex were okay with the feeling in the dry towards the end of FP1, but then the heavy rain came at the start of the Practice. The new tarmac here provided enough grip for Fabio to feel comfortable, and he did a good job securing a place in Q2. Álex struggled more in the full wet, and he lost some time when he had to switch bikes. It got better as the track dried out towards the end, but he will still be taking part in Q1. It seems like the remainder of the race weekend will be dry, so we will use FP2 to get the riders on the right track so they can push to the fullest in qualifying and the Sprint."

Fabio Quartararo

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

"I felt great today when it was fully wet, and even at the end when there were wet patches. It was tricky, but I managed to get a 2'04.7s also then, so that was pretty good. When the grip is good, our bike is working well. Today, we were able to be quite fast. Tomorrow we will use the medium front in the dry, and I think it will be better than the soft we used today."

Álex Rins

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

"It was a stressful day. This circuit has a nice layout but to have wet and changeable conditions is not so nice. We gave it everything. We had a small problem in the Practice with the bike we were using, so I lost a bit of time changing bikes but, overall, it was a good day. I'm out of Q2 by about 0.2s, but we gave our maximum. For sure, tomorrow in dry conditions, we are going to enjoy it."