PETRONAS Yamaha SRT head to Fabio Quartararo’s home GP

Michelle Liew

October 7, 2020

Both Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli are fond of France and are hoping to make vast improvements.

PETRONAS Yamaha SRT | Photo credits: SIC

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli will be aiming for a stellar weekend once again to continue their 2020 MotoGP success this weekend. This time, the MotoGP paddock shifts to Quartararo’s home race: Grand Prix de France. The Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans will play host to the first event in the penultimate triple-header of the season.

In tackling the French GP, hometown hero Quartararo heads into the ninth race of the season with increased confidence. The Frenchman won the last time out and moved back into the lead of the riders’ championship. Despite not winning podium last year, Quartararo did set the fastest lap around the 4.2km long circuit. In a bid to improve his record, he has set sights on becoming the first Frenchman in the premier class history to stand on the top step of the podium at the Le Mans circuit.

Team-mate Morbidelli will also be hoping to maintain the good form from Barcelona, after taking his maiden MotoGP pole position at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The Italian has a history of good results at Le Mans. He claimed his first world championship top-ten finish there in 2014 and a Moto2 win in 2017 and will be looking to add another great result to the tally this weekend.

Track action will begin for PETRONAS Yamaha SRT, the current leaders in the teams’ championship, at 9.55 am local time (3.55 pm MYT) on Friday. The 27-lap MotoGP race will get underway on Sunday at the slightly earlier time of 1 pm local time (7 pm MYT).

Fabio Quartararo (PETRONAS Yamaha SRT)- What to Expect?

Photo credits; FormulaRapida.net

“I’m really happy to be able to have a home GP this year and it’s a special feeling to go there as championship leader. Le Mans is a track that I really like. It is going to be important for us to fight for victory and score as many points as possible. Normally it is a track that I do well at, I did finish eighth there last year but it was a really fast-paced race and I’m hoping to continue the good form from the Barcelona weekend. I just hope the fans that are allowed to come to bring warm conditions with them because it is quite cold at the moment! I’m just really happy to have a home GP, as there are not a lot of races this year.”

Franco Morbidelli (PETRONAS Yamaha SRT)- What to Expect?

Photo credits: GPone.com

“Le Mans is a good track and I like it a lot. It’s a track that I have had some decent races there past and had some strong results: I had my first top-ten finish in 2014 and I won there in 2017. I’m feeling great, both physically and mentally, so I’m in a good shape to go into these next races. With this third triple-header, we start the second half of the 2020 season, my best MotoGP season so far. Now, I’m looking forward to being back racing again after this very small break, we will try to be fast again and I’m ready to see what we can do in Le Mans before we go to Aragon.”