Quartararo Delivers Superb 3rd-Place Sprint Podium at the Sachsenring

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo had a lightning start to the 15-lap Grand Prix of Germany Sprint, which was key to him securing third place and the second Sprint podium of his career. After a tricky start, Álex Rins gritted his teeth in tough racing conditions and rallied from 19th to 15th.

Quartararo started from P7, but a series of confident overtakes in the opening corners saw him move up to third. On lap 3 Franco Morbidelli crashed out, promoting El Diablo to second. Meanwhile the Yamaha man set two fastest laps in a row as he chased down Marco Bezzecchi, but before he could reach him Marc Marquez came knocking. With seven laps to go, a battle for second place ensued and Quartararo had to let the Spaniard pass. Unable to stay with him, the number-20 rider turned his attention to defending his third place from a charging Fabio Di Giannantonio and did so successfully, holding third at the chequered flag, with a 4.361s gap to the winner.

Rins started from P17 following Maverick Viñales’ retirement from the German GP. The number 42 rider ran wide in Turn 1 and slotted into last place before starting his charge. He overtook Ai Ogura, Lorenzo Savadori, and Luca Marini, and that, combined with Morbidelli’s crash, had the Yamaha man in 15th place by lap 4. He was on the back of Joan Mir but was unable to pass him. Rins pushed all the way to the finish line, crossing it in 15th place, 23.575s from first.

Massimo Meregalli (Team Director, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP)
“It was a difficult day at the Sachsenring, because the rain would ease off and then intensify again, making it difficult for the riders to predict what they could expect on track. Even during this afternoon’s 15 laps, the track conditions were changing. Fabio did a great job at the start when the track was at its wettest. His calculated and gutsy overtakes around the outside cemented his place on the Sprint podium. Álex, on the other hand, had a more difficult start from P17, going wide in the first corner. He made some passes in the first four laps of the Sprint race but was unable to make further strides after that. For tomorrow the weather predictions are still a bit uncertain. There is no guarantee that the conditions for the Warm Up will be the same as in the 30-lap Race. This means the team and the riders will have to use the Warm Up and the Race’s sighting lap, warm-up lap, and first couple of laps to adapt to the track conditions.”

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider)
“We knew the first lap was going to be super important. I knew I could push at the beginning. I expected the tyre to drop much more, but I was really smooth with the throttle – trying not to slide – and managed to keep the pace like that for many laps. I never expected to be that fast in the rain this afternoon. Tomorrow I will do my best again, give my maximum, and let’s see where we finish.”

Álex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider)
“We’re not able to stay at the same level as Fabio, but also Jack, and we need to find out why. I spent the whole Sprint race behind Mir. I seem to be losing time especially in Sector 2. We need to try to resolve this. Let’s see. For sure, tomorrow will be a tough Race, but we need to stay positive.”

credit: Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP