Initial Difficulties For Monster Energy Yamaha Racers In MotoGP America

Monster Energy Yamaha Racer Fabio Quartararo during the American MotoGP training session (photo: dock. inter)

JAKARTA - In the first training session of the American MotoGP at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Austin, Texas, Monster Energy Yamaha racer Fabio Quartararo and Olex Rins faced considerable challenges. Quartararo and Rins each encountered difficulties and finished in 17th and 18th positions, making them have to start from the Q1 entry list, on Saturday 13 Ap[ril WIB.

"It's more difficult than we expected... We expect time to be a little better and not far from the summit. But let's see (later in qualifying)," Quartararo said, quoted from Yamaha's official statement.

"Hopefully we can find small things to improve feelings (on the motorbike). The highest speed is a positive point. We were able to play more with strength today, especially in the slow bend," he added.

Meanwhile, Rins is back enjoying the race on the COTA track, one of his favorite circuits on the MotoGP calendar.

However, the results of the first training session of the Spaniard did not go as expected. He completed a total of 17 laps in the training session. His best time, 2 minutes 02.875 seconds made him have to end the session in 18th position, and was 1.478 seconds adrift of the top of the session.

We're working pretty hard. We started FP1 and it's a bit difficult to find the best way to get fast. I'm struggling to change course. This isn't new, but this time I also find it quite difficult to stop motorbikes when braking hard. But we're definitely trying to find a solution, "explained Rins.

"Right now we need to analyze and we need to choose the best package for qualification and sprint later," he added.

Yamaha Team Director Massimo Meregalli continued, he and his team are determined to improve the appearance of the two riders on the second day of the American MotoGP today.

"We need to work hard to record a better time and prepare for qualification and Sprint," said Meregalli.