MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP READY TO PUSH THE BORDER IN PORTUGAL
Portimao (Portugal), April 14, 2021
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Maverick Viñales traveled to Portimao, Portugal for the first European round of the 2021 MotoGP season at the Autódromo Internacional Algarve this weekend.
After the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team started the two opening rounds of the MotoGP World Championship 2021 with a double victory, they are eagerly awaiting the third round in Portimao, Portugal this weekend.
Fabio Quartararo, still thrilled to have won the Doha Grand Prix, is full of excitement on the beautiful but tricky circuit of the Autódromo Internacional Algarve. Although the Frenchman had a difficult race there last year, he is very much hoping that he can carry over the positive momentum from Qatar to the first European lap this weekend in 2021.
El Diablo is currently in second place in the overall standings with a total of 36 points. There are only 4 points between him and the driver in first place, which gives him even more encouragement to get a top result.
Maverick Viñales is a fan of the layout of the Autódromo Internacional Algarve, which allows drivers to overtake at different points on the track, which makes the Portuguese Grand Prix even more exciting. Last year, when the race in Portimao was the season finale, he finished 11th. While consistency of grip can be tricky at this track, the Spaniard believes he can make a big improvement over the coming weekend.
After a victory in Qatar Race 1 and a fifth place in Qatar Race 2, the Spaniard is currently third in the championship, behind his teammate, who also has 36 points.
The Autódromo Internacional Algarve is better known as Portimao, after the port city from which it is half an hour’s drive. The track opened in 2008 and was added to the MotoGP calendar for the first time last year. It immediately became a huge hit with the drivers, but also especially with the fans who couldn’t get enough of their heroes who walk this track, which is famous for its differences in altitude. The track has 15 turns – nine on the right, six on the left – and the front straight allows MotoGP riders to really stretch the legs of their machines before a one-of-a-kind descent into Turn 1.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
This weekend will be an interesting test for us. We come to Portimao and still feel the euphoria of having won the first two rounds. However, we know from last year that this track can be difficult, but that only makes us all the more excited to be here. We’re pretty confident because we’ve seen the 2021 bike work well. We’re looking forward to holding our own against the competition for the first time this season on a track other than Doha.
FABIO QUARTARARO
Winning the second race in Doha was fantastic! After collecting my first win with the Factory team, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. After the first, I feel like I can focus even better on the task ahead, but it also makes me even more excited for this weekend. Last year I had a difficult race on the Portimao circuit. It’s different from all the other tracks, but that also makes it interesting. I am very curious to see if we can be as fast as in Qatar this weekend.
MAVERICK VIÑALES
I’m really looking forward to this race weekend. I really like the Portimao circuit. It is a challenge. Last year we didn’t go as high as we wanted, but I really enjoyed this race because this track has a lot of places to overtake. I like this type of circuit, it makes it very exciting. At last year’s race I had a particularly good rhythm towards the end, so this weekend we’ll be concentrating on getting this feeling right at the start of the race.