Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Teammates' Slick Tyre Gamble Pays Off in Sepang Sprint

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins opted to stay out on slicks as light rain hit some parts of the Sepang International Circuit during the 10-lap Grand Prix of Malaysia Sprint. It turned out to be the right strategy. The teammates took the chequered flag in P11 and P12.

GRAND PRIX OF MALAYSIA

SPRINT

Sepang (Malaysia), 31st October 2026

11th

F. Quartararo
+10.076 / 10 LAPS

12th

Á. Rins
+12.250 / 10 LAPS

The Grand Prix of Malaysia Sprint was a challenging outing for the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP riders. Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins had to think on their feet as sudden rain plagued the MotoGP field during the 10-lap dash. Opting to stay out on slicks, the teammates rode to an encouraging P11 and P12 result respectively.

Starting from P18 on the grid, Quartararo overtook his teammate and Jack Miller to complete the opening lap in 16th. When white flags were shown on lap two, signalling riders were allowed to swap bikes, the Frenchman elected to stay out on slicks. After Álex Márquez crashed from the lead on lap three, Quartararo moved up to 15th and soon passed Franco Morbidelli, Joan Mir, and Maverick Viñales to take 12th position as the first two of these rivals opted to pit. With three laps remaining, the number 20 overtook Luca Marini and then closed in on Johann Zarco, but ultimately came up just short, crossing the line in P11, 10.076s from the winner.

Rins commenced the 10-lap dash from P17 and dropped to P18 on the opening lap after being passed by his teammate. He remained firmly in the mix as changing conditions caused confusion throughout the field, with several riders opting to swap bikes after Álex Márquez crashed out of the lead on lap 3. Like Quartararo, the number 42 stayed out on slicks and benefited as others pitted. He steadily worked his way forward and was up to P13 by lap 5 and passed Marini on lap 8. As heavier rain began to fall in the closing stages, Rins brought his YZR-M1 home in 12th place, 12.250s from first.

Following today's Sprint, Quartararo stays 15th in the MotoGP World Championship standings with 74 points, while Rins keeps 20th place with 25 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP stay 10th in the Team Championship with 99 points, and Yamaha remain fifth in the Constructor Championship with 100 points.

The team will be back in action tomorrow for Warm Up, held from 10:40-10:50 (GMT+8), and the 20-lap Race, which starts at 15:00.

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MASSIMO MEREGALLI
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Director

"It's been a challenging weekend so far. Fabio and Álex never quite found the feeling they were looking for during qualifying, which left us starting further back than we would have liked. The rain arriving during the Sprint created an additional challenge. In those conditions, especially in a Sprint race, the riders have to make a quick judgement call on whether to stay out or change bikes. Fabio and Álex made the right decision today. Fortunately, the rain remained light for most of the race, which allowed them to recover from P18 and P17 on the grid respectively to finish in P11 and P12. Although we missed out on the points, it was a positive development after a difficult Friday and Saturday morning. We will analyse today's data carefully and continue to monitor the weather closely because, as we saw today, it can have a major impact on the outcome."

FABIO QUARTARARO
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

"Qualifying was not good: the feeling was not there. In the Sprint race, I gave it my best effort, especially when it started raining. I was pushing at the maximum to catch the guys in front of me. We didn't finish so far from P6. We also know that in normal circumstances it would have been different, but I enjoyed looking for the limit in the rain. I'm hoping for the same conditions for tomorrow, because it was pretty fun. It's easy to make a mistake, but you can see what the people in front of you are doing and push a bit more, so that was fun, and hopefully we can do the same tomorrow."

ÁLEX RINS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

"My riding was not bad, especially in the first part of the Sprint race. We did a great start. We were there: I recovered some positions. I had a big moment with Maverick [Viñales] in corner 4 on the first lap. He picked up the bike, and I was there on the outside, so we both ran wide. The level came to me, but then I started to struggle with the front brake on the last five laps, and that was it. Tomorrow, it will be a long race. We will try to manage the tyre. Let's see what we can do."