Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP |News details:Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Duo Take P6 and P8 in Sepang Race Restart

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Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins stayed composed and scored solid points in today's Grand Prix of Malaysia Race restart. The duo completed the 19-lap contest in the sweltering heat in sixth and eighth place respectively.

Sepang (Malaysia), 3rd November 2024

After a fright at the beginning the original Grand Prix of Malaysia Race, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP fans were relieved they could enjoy a good show from Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins during the 19-lap restart. The Sepang International Circuit is not easy to negotiate in 34°C, but the teammates persevered and took sixth and eighth place respectively.

A dramatic original start to the Race, saw Quartararo involved in a nasty race incident with Brad Binder and Jack Miller in the second corner, causing a red flag. Quartararo, though limping a little, was able to walk away from the accident and return to the box in time for the Race restart. The race length was reduced by one lap to 19 laps in total. At 15:20 local time, pit lane opened for a quick restart procedure.

Quartararo resorted to his second bike to take his original eighth place on the grid, with Miller's spot in seventh place staying empty. The number-20 rider slotted into seventh place, safely negotiating the opening corners this time around. But he struggled to stay with the three riders ahead of him fighting for fourth. Pedro Acosta overtook him at the end of lap 3, but with Franco Morbidelli and Marc Marquez crashing on lap 7, El Diablo was soon up to sixth. It became a rather lonely ride for the Frenchman. He rode to the finish line holding sixth place, taking the chequered flag 16.245s behind the race winner.

Rins originally had a superb start before the red flag. He made sure to stay focused for the 19-lap restart. He commenced from the ninth slot on the grid again, but this time his launch wasn't as good, and he was in eighth position after the opening corners. Though Acosta was charging and briefly overtook him, the Yamaha man responded and reclaimed eighth. However, at the end of lap 2, Acosta passed him again, and two laps later also Maverick Viñales slipped through. But with two other rivals crashing on lap 7, the number-42 rider moved back up to eighth. At half race distance, on lap 10, Rins again challenged Viñales but was unsuccessful and then gradually lost time. With a substantial gap to the rider in front and behind him, he pushed on to take eighth place at the finish line, 20.611s from first.

Today's results see Quartararo hold 13th place in the overall standings with 108 points. Rins moves up to joint-18th position with 31 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP move up to 8th place in the team championship with 139 points, and Yamaha hold on to 4th position in the constructor's championship with 119 points.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team will be back in action for the season finale, which could potentially be held in Barcelona from 15-17 November, to be confirmed by Dorna in due course.

Massimo Meregalli

Team Director

Let's start by stating the obvious: Fabio was extremely unlucky to get caught up in that nasty race incident, but he was extremely lucky to walk away from it. It was a big relief to see him back on his feet again so quickly and to hear that nobody got seriously injured. A restart after a big accident is always difficult for the riders, but it's part of racing. Other challenges in this race were the high temperatures as well as tyre degradation towards the later stages. Fabio and Álex did well to deal with all of this and ride at the limit whilst preserving their tyres. This sixth and eighth place are solid results, so we wrap up the second triple-header in a positive way. We now fly back to Europe. A week off is well deserved for the riders and the team. We will use it to recharge ahead of the season finale.

Fabio Quartararo

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

I have no idea what happened during the opening lap accident. I had a big touch with Brad Binder or Jack Miller. Then I was flying, and after that I don't really remember what happened. We were all on the ground, but I don't think it was a mistake. On a slow corner and change of direction, it's really easy to touch. Those things can happen. For the restart, I had to take my second bike, and we didn't have any more tyres, so I started with tyres from yesterday from qualifying that I didn't really like. Unfortunately, I couldn't catch the riders ahead of me. But I think this was a really positive race weekend for us, overall. We have done a great qualifying, great Sprint, and great Race. I think we are heading in the right direction, and hopefully we can make a step at the last round.

Álex Rins

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

It was a good Race. We're doing better. Within our possibilities, we made a step forward, and this is my best result with Yamaha so far. Honestly, since Saturday, I was feeling quite good on the bike. We were unlucky with this red flag. I did an unbelievable start, and I was fighting with Marc Marquez. In the restart, I tried to give it my all again, I tried to control the tyres as much as possible. We still need to improve tyre preservation, but we are working in a good way. Let's see how we can do at the last round. We will give our best again, and let's see if we can improve.