25 Jun, 2023
Today’s TT Assen MotoGP Race showed that the TT Circuit Assen is not a place for the faint-hearted. Various riders ended up in the gravel traps. Franco Morbidelli profited and crossed the finish line in ninth place. Teammate Fabio Quartararo, on the other hand, was one of the unlucky riders to have his challenge end prematurely. He aggravated his foot injury and will spend the summer break focusing on making a full recovery.
Morbidelli successfully defended his 15th place starting position on the opening lap and then gained a spot on the next one before ‘The Cathedral of Speed’ took its toll. The next few laps were a flurry of activity with multiple riders crashing. Meanwhile Morbido engaged in battles with various riders. As things settled halfway into the race, the number-21 rider was in the top 10. He was maintaining a steady pace under the hot afternoon sun, trying to preserve the tyres. With one more rival crashing out ahead of him, Morbidelli finished the race in ninth place, 29.335s from first.
Quartararo started from P4 but found himself in the busy mid-pack after the opening lap. With Jack Miller crashing out, the Yamaha man was in 12th place. He was keen to make progress, but his race ended abruptly with a crash in Turn 6 as he collided with Johann Zarco. The already injured El Diablo was able to walk away from the crash and was taken to the Medical Centre for an examination. He had multiple scans done and additional fractures were ruled out. However, he was diagnosed with bruising on his left elbow and hand. The Frenchman will use the summer break to recover before the second half of the season.
Today’s results put Quartararo in 9th in the overall standings with 64 points. Morbidelli moves up to 11th place with 57 points. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team are 6th in the team championship with 121 points, and Yamaha are 5th in the constructor’s championship with 82 points.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP will be back in action in close to six weeks’ time, when they start Round 9, the Monster Energy British Grand Prix, held at the Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom.
