Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Salvage Points in Chaotic COTA MotoGP Race

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team's hard work on the Grand Prix of the Americas Sunday was rewarded with important championship points. The build-up and the actual MotoGP Race had plenty of drama. Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins ploughed on through it all, though, and secured 10th and 11th place respectively.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team had to stay alert and think on their feet at the start of today's Grand Prix of The Americas. The MotoGP event had it all: tricky to predict riding conditions, a delayed start, and quite a bit of chaos before and during the Race. Fabio Quartararo's and Álex Rins' grit shown throughout the 19-laps was ultimately rewarded with a 10th and 11th place and valuable points.

There was a lot of drama at the Circuit of The Americas before the MotoGP Race even started. Quartararo had a crash on the sighting lap but was able to remount his YZR-M1 and taxi to the starting grid with some help of Jack Miller. However, once he was at the starting grid and had changed into new leathers, more unexpected events took place. Various riders decided last minute to switch bikes (to go to slicks), causing the race start to be delayed and the race length to be reduced to 19 laps.

A quick starting procedure ensued with Quartararo on his second bike, which the team had hastily converted from a wet to a dry set-up. The number-20 rider had a good start from P11, moving up as high as 7th over the first lap. He was part of a group of six riders battling for 5th place in the opening stages with more and more riders gradually joining. The Yamaha rider tried to attack as well as defend, but he found himself in a difficult position due to an unusual dashboard notification, and he fell back to 14th. A tumultuous final 10 laps saw El Diablo battle with various riders while multiple other rivals crashed out or retired from the race. The Frenchman was riding in a lonely 10th place by the end of the race and took the chequered flag 18.255s from the winner.

Rins started from P14 on slicks. He briefly got up to 11th, riding behind his teammate after the opening corners, but then started to lose ground after contact with another rider. After lap 2, he found himself in 21st place but mounted a comeback, moving up to 18th following a scrap with Augusto Fernández. He continued his charge, overtaking Raul Fernandez, while multiple other riders failed to complete the race distance. It allowed the Spaniard to rise up to 11th place. He held the position across the finish line, crossing it 24.256s from first.

Today's results see Quartararo in joint-12th place in the overall standings with 16 points. Rins is joint 15th with 10 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP is now in 7th place in the team championship with 26 points, and Yamaha remains in 5th position in the constructor championship with 28 points.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP will be back in action in two weeks' time for the Grand Prix of Qatar, which will be held at the Lusail International Circuit from 11-13 April.