Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo continued his fine run of form at this weekend’s Grand Prix Deutshland, converting his front row start into a third-place finish. Team-mate Maverick Viñales had a challenging weekend, finishing the 30-lap Grand Prix in 19th. Valentino Rossi brought his PETRONAS M1 Yamaha home in the points, finishing 14th with Franco Morbidelli in 18th.
The Yamaha MotoGP riders endured a difficult German Grand Prix this weekend as MotoGP returned to the Sachsenring circuit for the first time since 2019. High temperatures had made for perfect running throughout the weekend, but nobody could have predicted that spots of rain just before the start would add extra tension ahead of the 30-lap race.
Launching from his sixth-consecutive front row start, Quartararo momentarily took the lead on the run in to turn one but lost a handful of positions in the opening twists and turns of the lap, dropping the Frenchman to fourth at the end of the opening lap. Sandwiched between two Ducatis, the six-time MotoGP race-winner slipped to sixth place by the end of the fourth lap, however, the 22-year-old was saving his hard-medium tyres for a mid-race charge.
As spots of rain reappeared at the German circuit on lap nine, Quartararo muscled his way past compatriot Johann Zarco before making two identical manoeuvres at turn 12, promoting the Yamaha rider to third. It was important for ‘El Diablo’ to keep his concentration as the tyres started dropping off, which he did perfectly, eventually crossing the line in third place, 6.772 seconds behind the race winner.
Leading PETRONAS SRT rider Valentino Rossi enjoyed a more positive weekend. Qualifying 16th on the grid, Rossi aimed for a strong start but like Quartararo, lost positions in the opening corners. Using his experience while other riders crashed around him, the 42-year-old worked his way back into the points where he eventually finished in 14th place, picking up two extra points for his 2021 season.
Second Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider Maverick Viñales had an uphill task ahead of him as he launched from 21st on the grid. Using a medium-medium tyre combination, a moment at the start of the race cost Viñales time but he quickly regrouped and found his rhythm. Crashes for riders ahead of him promoted the Spaniard to 17th, but the number 12 rider eventually crossed the line in 19th after a late mistake dropped him to the back of the battle for 15th, finishing just behind Franco Morbidelli and 24.715 seconds behind the race-winner.
The Sachsenring podium saw Quartararo increase his lead in the championship standings to a 22-point advantage and 131 points in total. Viñales remains in sixth with 75 points. Franco Morbidelli leaves Germany in 11th place on 40 points with Valentino Rossi 19th in the standings. Yamaha is still in first place in the Constructor championship with 159 points, and the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team is also in first place in the Team standings with 206 points.
The Yamaha MotoGP teams now travel to Holland for round nine at the TT Circuit Assen held next weekend, from 25th – 27th June 2021.