Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP ended the emotional Italian GP on a high note, winning the race and dedicating it to the late Jason Dupasquier. The team now travels to Barcelona for Round 7 of the 2021 MotoGP World Championship. It‘s a Grand Prix that the entire crew is eagerly anticipating. Not only is it Maverick Viñales‘ home race and a track where Fabio Quartararo won last year, the event also shares the title sponsor, Monster Energy, with the Factory Yamaha team.
Quartararo is looking forward to the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, especially after last weekend‘s emotional but still flawless win at the Italian GP. He made great progress in terms of mapping and tyre degradation throughout last weekend, and this leaves him excited to impress again at Montmeló.
The Frenchman has had his fair share of success at the Catalan GP. He secured a win there in 2018 in the Moto2 class, followed this up with a second place in the premier class in 2019, and added a MotoGP win in 2020. He aims to add another podium visit to his résumé this weekend and increase his 24-point lead in the championship standings.
After a disappointing end to the Italian GP weekend, Viñales is fired up and ready to go another round at another circuit that he loves. He plans to work on finding a solid base set-up this weekend and intends to collect valuable points for the championship. He currently holds sixth place in the standings, 41 points from the top.
The Spaniard is no stranger to the Montmeló rostrum. He previously achieved four consecutive podium finishes in the Catalan GP in the lower classes, with a second place in the 125cc class (2011), a first and third place in the Moto3 championship (2012 and 2013 respectively), and a second position in Moto2 (2014). Top Gun hasn‘t scored a top-3 finish at Catalunya yet in the MotoGP class, but he fancies his chances this weekend.
Work to create the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya began in 1989. Two years later the track was opened, and it soon became a crowd favourite after hosting its first MotoGP race in 1992. With an exciting 4.6km lay-out consisting of 14 corners (six left, eight right), the Catalan round is known to produce thrilling races. Its great reputation was underlined when the venue won the IRTA 'Best Grand Prix' trophy in 2001.
