26 May, 2024
The Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya Race was a tough battle for the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammates, ending with mixed results. Fabio Quartararo's hard work was rewarded with a 9th place and 7 points. Álex Rins had a rough day at the office and finished the 24-lap Race in 20th position.
Montmeló (Catalunya), 26th May 2024 :- Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rode a shrewd last lap of the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya Race, earning him 10th position at the finish line. With Enea Bastianini, who ended in ninth place, failing to complete a ride-through penalty, Quartararo was moved up to 9th in the final results, earning him 7 points. It wasn't Álex Rins' day, though. He took the chequered flag in 20th place.
Quartararo had to come from P17 on the grid but was already in 13th place after the opening lap. Although various opponents crashed in the first half of the race, the Frenchman also had to contend with charging riders, so his ranking in the live timing remained pretty much stagnant at 13th position.
The second half of the race was a whole different story. With seven laps remaining, Quartararo overtook Maverick Viñales. On that same lap, Bastianini completed the first of his double long-lap penalty, and Franco Morbidelli crashed. Suddenly the Yamaha man was in tenth. Though Bastianini overtook El Diablo again on lap 20, the Italian still had another long-lap penalty to complete. Quartararo cleverly followed him to Miguel Oliveira but before the number-20 rider could make a move, Marco Bezzecchi got into the mix, relegating Quartararo to 12th. Nevertheless, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider kept his head cool. He passed both Bezzecchi and Oliveira on the last lap to retake tenth position, which he masterfully defended all the way to the finish line, 20.477s from the winner. With Bastianini failing to complete the double long lap, resulting in a ride-through penalty which he also failed to complete, the Ducati rider was pushed back to 18th, moving Quartararo up to ninth place.
Things didn't go to plan for Rins. Coming from P8 on the grid, he had a good start but nearly clipped Jorge Martin causing a less than perfect entry into Turn 1. The Yamaha man had to take evasive action and ended up in the long-lap penalty area. Once he returned on track, the home hero fell back to the tail of the pack. The disappointing start to the 24-lap contest was a setback for sure, but the Barcelona-born rider was determined to give the crowds a good show. He started his charge, and by lap 12 he was in 15th place and within the points. However, wheelspin prevented him from making further progress. In the final seven laps, Rins lost ground again. He fell back to 20th place, taking the chequered flag 1'03.428s from first.
Today's results see Quartararo now in 12th place in the overall standings with 32 points. Rins is in 21st position with 7 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP keep their 9th place in the team championship with 39 points, and Yamaha hold onto 4th position in the constructor’s championship with 35 points.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team will now travel to the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello in Italy for the Gran Premio d'Italia Brembo, held from 31 May-2 June.
