Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Intent on Competitive Performance at Catalan GP

Montmeló (Spain), 30th August 2023

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team gear up for a busy two weeks. The team have travelled to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for this weekend‘s Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. The team is extra motivated for Round 11, as they share the title sponsor. The event will be directly followed by the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini and the Misano MotoGP Official Test.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team are excited to start Round 11 of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship. The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya shares the title sponsor with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team, making the crew and riders all the more eager to put on a show.

Quartararo ranks 11th in the championship standings and is aiming to up the ante this weekend in Barcelona. The pace he had in Spielberg a fortnight ago gives him high hopes for Montmeló the coming weekend, which is a circuit where he and his Yamaha excel. The Frenchman has had his fair share of success at the Catalan GP. He secured a win there in 2018 in the Moto2 class, followed this up with a second place in the premier class in 2019, and added a MotoGP win in 2020 and 2022. He aims to pay the Montmeló podium another visit this weekend.

Morbidelli holds 12th place in the championship. This weekend he plans on finding a solid base set-up early on, as he is determined to get in strong results in the Practice and qualifying to improve his starting position. The Italian hasn‘t scored a top-3 finish at Catalunya yet in the MotoGP class but came close in 2020, when he finished fourth. Having been able to engage in battles at the previous round in Spielberg, the number-21 rider got a taste for battling with the competition, and he is keen to do it again this weekend.

Work to create the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya began in 1989. Two years later, the track was opened, and it soon became a crowd favourite after hosting its first MotoGP race in 1992. With an exciting 4.6km layout consisting of 14 corners (six left, eight right), the Catalan round is known to produce thrilling races.

Those who want to know the key to doing a fast lap in Montmeló can watch this week‘s MotoGP eSport video.

MASSIMO MEREGALLI

Team Director

There‘s a busy two weeks coming up: back-to-back rounds in Montmeló and Misano, which are important rounds for our team, and then the Misano test. But first things first: we need to focus on getting good results here this weekend. We are usually quite competitive in Catalunya. In theory, this track plays more into our strengths. It‘s also a Monster Energy-sponsored GP again, so we have a lot of motivation to get to work.

FABIO QUARTARARO

I rode one of the best races of my life here last year. Barcelona is one of my favourite circuits. I like Montmeló. It‘s usually a good track for me, and I always enjoy riding here. Let‘s see if we can get some good results and bring some smiles to the team and my family.

FRANCO MORBIDELLI

I had fun during the previous race weekend because we were engaging in battles. I want to build onto that and keep the momentum going. I felt good during the Austrian GP Race. I was gaining, but I arrived late to the group in front of me. This weekend we will hopefully improve the results on Friday and on Saturday morning so we can start a bit more from towards the front of the grid.