Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha are optimistic that the newly resurfaced high-grip Brno circuit will improve the M1’s performance during MotoGP’s return to the Czech Republic for the first time since 2020. This opportunity is crucial for Quartararo as he looks to rebound and deliver strong results before the summer break.
Following a surprising third-place finish in the wet German Sprint and a fourth place in the dry German Grand Prix, Quartararo faced a large 18.7-second gap behind the race winner Marc Marquez of Ducati. Despite his solid finishes, the deficit highlighted the ongoing challenges Yamaha faces. The team now anticipates how the fresh Brno surface might influence their competitiveness, possibly providing a solution or revealing further difficulties.
Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP champion, acknowledged the progress made but emphasized that there is still room for improvement. He stated,
“We got some good results and points last weekend, but we still have work to do.”
Quartararo also expressed enthusiasm about racing in front of the Czech fans again after the two-year absence:
“This is the final GP before the summer break, and the first time we will be riding in front of the Czech fans since 2020, so we have every reason to push as hard as we can.”
He hopes that the enhanced grip of the new asphalt will aid their effort, saying,
“I heard that the new asphalt is quite grippy, so hopefully this will help us get some good results again.”
In his previous two visits to Brno in 2019 and 2020, while riding for Petronas Yamaha, Quartararo finished seventh on both occasions. This history gives some context for his expectations as he aims to improve his standing at this round of the championship.
Alex Rins Looks to Reset After Difficult German GP at New Brno Surface
Yamaha teammate Alex Rins is eager for the Czech round to arrive, hoping to recover from a challenging weekend in Germany where he finished last. Rins tested at Brno recently alongside Pramac racer Miguel Oliveira and Yamaha wild-card rider Augusto Fernandez to prepare for this weekend.
Given the stark differences between the Brno circuit and Sachsenring, especially after Brno’s upgraded surface, Rins explained the challenges ahead:
“We need to use the German GP data and this weekend to analyse and improve the performance of the bike, but it’s not going to be easy to compare the two GPs.”
He also shared his confidence in the test results:
“I tested in Brno a few weeks ago, and the feeling was fine, so I’m eager to start the weekend and see if we can make a step here.”
Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha’s team manager, expressed optimism that the preparation afforded by the recent private test, combined with the new surface’s characteristics, will help improve the M1’s competitiveness. He remarked,
“Thanks to that private test, we start this weekend with a base set-up already in place,”
and added,
“The Brno track has just been completely resurfaced. It’s very smooth and grippy – which is good for us.”
Currently, Quartararo sits tenth in the world championship standings, while Rins occupies eighteenth, making this race a key moment for both riders to challenge the current hierarchy as the season reaches its midpoint.
As the MotoGP paddock prepares to return to Brno, all eyes will be on how the updated track surface influences bike setup, rider confidence, and overall race dynamics. The performance of Quartararo and the Yamaha team here could signal new momentum heading into the second half of the season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened with Fabio Quartararo?
A. Quartararo’s left shoulder hit the ground forcefully, causing him to slide on the gravel with his motorcycle. The 2021 world champion stayed in the gravel for quite a while, holding his dislocated left shoulder. Medical staff immediately repositioned his shoulder at the scene.
Q. MotoGP’s highest earner, Fabio Quartararo, takes home four times less than Formula 1’s top-paid star, Max Verstappen, who earns a staggering £50m per year. F1 driver salaries: how do much Formula 1 drivers earn?
A. Who receives the highest salary among MotoGP riders?
Q. What happened to Fabio Quartararo?
A. Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo experienced more vibration problems during the MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix. This issue led to his crash while he was in 10th position. In the three previous races, he started in pole position and competed for top three spots in two of them. However, the 2021 world champion faced difficulties throughout the entire Aragon weekend.
