Quartararo Storms to Sensational Second Place in Spanish GP, Rins Rides from P23 to P13

It was a Superb Sunday for the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team at the Gran Premio de España as both Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins showed great pace and fighting spirit in the 25-lap Race. Quartararo started from pole and withstood pressure from multiple rivals to secure a magnificent 2nd place. It is the Frenchman's and the team's first Sunday Race podium since the 2023 Indonesian GP. Rins started from last place on the grid but wrestled his way to 13th position at the finish line.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team is back on the MotoGP Sunday Race podium for the first time since the 2023 Indonesian GP thanks to a masterful ride by Fabio Quartararo in the 25-lap Gran Premio de España. Teammate Álex Rins also had a very positive outing at the Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto today. After a tough Saturday, he bounced back riding from P23 to P13 in the Race, underlining Yamaha's race performance potential.

Quartararo had a great start from Pole and held the lead into the first corner. With his rivals battling amongst themselves behind him, the Yamaha rider grabbed the chance to pull away a bit on the first lap, but on lap 4 Francesco Bagnaia and Alex Marquez started to catch up. It was ultimately only the latter that could stay with the Frenchman, who held the lead for 10 laps. It was going into Turn 1 on lap 11 that Alex Marquez dove on the inside and passed. El Diablo was unable to stay with him and soon had to shift his attention towards keeping Bagnaia at bay. The number 20 rider was making his M1 as wide as possible, and he did a formidable job. Not giving his rival a single chance to overtake all the way to the end, Quartararo stormed towards the finish line to secure 2nd place, 1.561s from the winner.

Rins started from P23 and moved up a spot on the first lap. He soon overtook Augusto Fernández and, with two riders running into the gravel traps, he found himself in 18th place behind Aleix Espargaró, who he managed to overtake on lap 7. He spent 7 laps circulating in 16th place, hungry to overtake one more rider for a championship point. With 11 laps to go, Jack Miller retired and one lap later Joan Mir and Franco Morbidelli crashed out. Meanwhile, Rins was in 13th place and all over the back of Raul Fernandez' bike. He overtook him going into lap 16, taking 12th place. The number 42 rider was giving it his all to hold on to his position but was pipped at the post by Marc Marquez on the final lap in the last sector. Rins finished in 13th place, 21.120s from first, scoring crucial points for the championship.

Today's results see Quartararo shoot up the rankings to 6th place in the overall standings with 50 points. Rins is now in 17th with 17 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP moves up to 4th place in the team championship with 67 points, and Yamaha goes from 5th to 2nd position in the constructor championship with 62 points.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP will be back in action tomorrow for the one-day IRTA Test at the Jerez track. After that, they will resume the racing action in two weeks' time at Quartararo's home GP. The Michelin Grand Prix de France will be held at the Le Mans circuit from 9-11 May.