Quartararo finishes Second at 2022 Indonesian MotoGP

With solid practice and qualifying sessions for the ENEOS-sponsored Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team, riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli showed skill during the main race (a soaking wet one!) at Mandalika for the 2022 Indonesian GP. Although it was shortened to 20 laps, the Indonesian fans were treated to an amazing spectacle of two-wheeled action.

With a tense start on a recently resurfaced Mandalika track, riders were put to the test having never ridden there in fully wet conditions. Quartararo had the perfect start from pole position, taking the holeshot and becoming the proverbial guinea pig as he tested the track conditions for the pursuing pack. He found a good balance between speed and caution, but was overtaken by Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller by the end of the opening lap.

El Diablo had trouble finding his comfort level in the wet conditions and dropped to fifth, but  his confidence grew and he began to push harder. After overtaking Alex Rins on lap 13 for fourth, he set his sights on a podium finish. With six laps remaining, he battled Johann Zarco for the podium, finally passing Miller for second position a lap later. Quartararo tried to catch Oliveira but ultimately finished second, only 2.205sec behind.

“We usually struggle in the wet, but I did much better than expectedI” said Quartararo. “This is my first podium in the rain, so I’m super-happy!”

Teammate Morbidelli made all the right moves from the start, recovering from 14th on the grid and making up for the grid penalty he received on Saturday. By lap 20, he had climbed to seventh place, thanks to aggressive riding and smart opening moves. He rode steadily during the second half of the race, finishing seventh on his YZR-M1, 21.115sec from first.

“What a crazy race with zero visibility!” Morbidelli exclaimed. “Even though it was madness, I’m happy with the result. It’s a new crew and bike, so I have much to catch up with and adapt quickly. We’ll do our best in Argentina!”

Quartararo and Morbidelli currently rank third and seventh place in the championship standings, with 27 and 14 points respectively. Yamaha and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP are in third with 27 points in the manufacturer championship, and second with 41 points in the team championship.

NEXT RACE

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP heads to Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo for the Grand Prix of Argentina from April 1-3, 2022.