Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Motivated for Mugello Race Weekend

26-05-2021

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Motivated for Mugello Race Weekend

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team are heading to the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello in high spirits, ready for their home GP.

The Gerno di Lesmo (Italy) based Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team are looking forward to returning to the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello after a one-year absence. It will be an extra special weekend for the Factory Yamaha camp, as they consider the Gran Premio d'Italia Oakley their home GP.

Despite reclaiming the lead in the championship standings by one point after the French GP, Fabio Quartararo is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. His approach is to take the championship step by step. The Frenchman has not previously scored a podium at the Mugello circuit but will do everything in his power to change that this weekend.

Maverick Viñales is also looking forward to return to the beautiful flowing hills of Tuscany. He loves the Mugello track‘s technically challenging nature. The Spaniard had a three-consecutive podium streak there from 2011 - 2013, consisting of a win in Moto3 and two third places, one in 125cc and one in Moto3. He also secured a second place there in the premier class in 2017. This weekend he aims to challenge for a spot on the rostrum again and move up from his current fifth position in the overall rankings, 24 points from the top.

Mugello is considered one of the most attractive tracks on the calendar, thanks to its mixture of uphill and downhill sections and a variety of fast and slow turns. The 5245-metre-long Tuscan circuit hosted its first MotoGP event back in 1976 and became a permanent fixture in 1991. The Italian GP is famous for its great atmosphere and is said to be a must-be-at event for motorcycle fans. They will be greatly missed at the track this year.

Fabio Quartararo

"It‘s time for the race weekend at Mugello. We weren‘t able to visit this race last year, so that makes this weekend feel a bit special besides the fact that it‘s also my team‘s home GP. We had a good weekend in Le Mans overall, and I also think our potential is good for this weekend. I‘m excited to get to work and just do the best we can."

Maverick Viñales

"I like Mugello a lot. It‘s one of my favourite tracks on the MotoGP calendar. I usually go very fast there. It‘s a circuit that has a bit of everything. There are points on that track where I‘m at a good level, and overall I‘m usually competitive at Mugello. I can‘t wait to start this race weekend!"

Massimo Meregalli

Team Director

"This week we ride in Mugello, our team‘s home GP. Though it‘s still a very special event, we will surely miss the fans, who make the atmosphere at the Italian GP so unique. However, regardless of the unusually quiet hillsides, we still head into this weekend fully intending to put on a good show for the passionate fans. Realistically speaking, we always expect the Italian GP to be a hard-fought race. We know the level will be high here, but we are planning to take advantage of certain sections of the track that suit our bike most, with the aim to fight for the podium."