The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team is eager to redeem themselves at the Argentina Grand Prix following disappointing performances at the Thai season opener. Despite previously high expectations based on their pre-season tests, both Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins struggled significantly at the Chang International Circuit, finishing far from their hoped-for positions.
After the first round, where Quartararo secured seventh in the Sprint Race but fell to 15th place during the Grand Prix, the French rider managed to accumulate just four points. Historically, Quartararo has faced difficulties at the Termas de Río Hondo circuit; his best MotoGP finish there remains seventh, achieved back in 2023. He acknowledged this prior to the Argentine race, stating, “The Thai GP was quite extreme in terms of temperature, especially on the race day. But we learned from the situation, and now we focus on the Argentina GP. We haven’t been at the Termas track in a long time, so I’m sure the fans there are very happy we’re back again.”
Meanwhile, Alex Rins mirrored his teammate's frustrations. He finished 17th in both the Sprint Race and Grand Prix, indicating there is still significant room for improvement. Rins has performed well at the Argentine Grand Prix historically, celebrating podium finishes twice, but acknowledged, “On Friday, we need to manage the grip, as it will be low; we expect this to improve throughout the weekend. We are very motivated to keep working and do whatever it takes to improve.”
Quartararo's return to Argentina is particularly noteworthy, as he voiced optimism about the conditions of the upcoming race. “I expect the low grip at the Termas de Río Hondo circuit will challenge us initially but should improve as the weekend progresses,” he reflected. He emphasized the importance of solid qualifying rounds for success, explaining, “If we have good qualifying, I’m not worried about pace. It is our best chance to achieve competitive positions.” He firmly believes Yamaha's progress seen in Malaysia will shine through the Argentine GP.
Both riders will need to navigate the challenges of the low grip, which could lead to risky maneuvers. Quartararo voiced concerns about the grip level influencing Friday’s practice sessions: “Everyone will push to the limit, so we might see many mistakes. But I will focus on competing for the best positions.” He aims to extract the best performance from his Yamaha, which he described as having improved overall compared to earlier seasons.
Rins, too, has high hopes. Having battled with bike setup and getting accustomed to the new Yamaha model, he acknowledged the difficulty he faced compared to Quartararo, particularly during their Thailand outing. “The bike setup caused difficulty; Fabio can stop the bike differently,” Rins explained. Despite the challenges, both riders and their team are committed to pushing through, with Rins noting, “We never stop pushing off track.”
Team Director Massimo Meregalli expressed optimism as the weekend approaches, emphasizing the historical connection with the Termas de Río Hondo. “It’s nice to return to this fond location with many passionate fans ready to see some thrilling MotoGP action,” he noted. He also recognized the potential challenges posed by the circuit condition on Friday, indicating, “We expect the track will be ‘green,’ and it will be difficult—a situation we face historically here. But we usually perform well on such circuits.”
The schedule for the Argentina Grand Prix indicates high-stakes action, beginning with FP1 on Friday morning, followed by practice sessions and qualifying leading up to the race. Quartararo's qualifying position will be pivotal, particularly after learning valuable insights during the Thai GP. The event kicks off with FP1 on Friday, March 14th, from 10:45 to 11:30 AM local time, setting the stage for the intense racing weekend.
This upcoming challenge holds keys to unlocking the potential of the Yamaha machine and determining the standing of their championship aspirations amid fierce competition. With spirits still high and determination stronger than ever, both Quartararo and Rins hope to improve upon their prior performances and bring the elusive success of victory to the Monster Energy Yamaha Team at the historic Termas de Río Hondo circuit.