MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Fabio Quartararo of Monster Energy Yamaha delivered a standout performance in the 2026 Brazilian MotoGP Sprint, overtaking Marc Marquez on the opening lap and securing Yamaha’s strongest result of the season.
Starting from fourth on the grid after a competitive qualifying session, Quartararo made an aggressive launch and immediately challenged at the front. The defining moment came early when he passed reigning champion Marquez, a move that carried both competitive and symbolic significance given Ducati’s current benchmark status.
“It’s always good to see these riders around you,” Quartararo told MotoGP.com.
“To be honest, I didn’t care where I would finish, just to overtake Marc, who is the reference now. It means a lot to me because I feel I haven’t lost it.”
Quartararo emphasised that the overtake was less about position and more about reaffirming his own performance level amid Yamaha’s ongoing technical transition.
“I know my potential on the bike. Even if he overtook me in the next corner, I don’t care, but at least I know where I am.”
Despite the strong start, Quartararo gradually lost positions to riders including Marco Bezzecchi, Jorge Martin, and Ai Ogura, ultimately finishing sixth, 7.7 seconds behind the race winner.
Nevertheless, the result marked a significant improvement compared to the opening round in Thailand, where Quartararo finished 16th in the Sprint. The performance reflects early progress from Yamaha’s new V4 package, despite ongoing limitations.
“I really enjoyed it, especially the first part of the race,” he added.
“We know that later we were using a bit too much tyre, and we are still struggling in top speed and in several areas.”
Quartararo acknowledged that while the bike still has clear weaknesses, the Brazil result provides a positive reference point for Yamaha’s development direction.
“I hope this gives them even more motivation to find something. I know my potential as a rider, and if Yamaha works well, we can make good steps.”
He also cautioned that performance consistency remains an issue, with results likely to fluctuate significantly across different circuits and conditions.
“I don’t know what position is realistic because in Thailand I pushed at the maximum and finished 14th, and today sixth. So I think there will be a lot of ups and downs, but at least we give our maximum.”
Team-mate Alex Rins finished 13th, significantly behind Quartararo, while Pramac Yamaha riders Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jack Miller ended the Sprint at the back of the field.
With a stronger baseline established in Brazil, Quartararo now turns focus to the Grand Prix race, where tyre management, race pace consistency, and technical refinement will be critical in sustaining competitiveness against Ducati’s advantage.
MotoGP Brazil 2026 continues with the main race, where evolving conditions and performance stability will play a decisive role in shaping the final outcome.
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