MotoGP Assen: Yamaha ‘will approach Assen with a clean slate’
The Dutch round was the star🌸t of Quartararo’s title woes one year ago.
Leadin𝓀g the standings, the Frenchman suffered his first DNF of the season after a dramatic race in which he fell after colliding with Aleix Espargaro, then later highsided due to bi🍃ke damage.
Salt was rubbed in the wound when he then received a controversial long lap penalty for t𝄹he next round at Silverston﷽e, for the Espargaro contact.
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Quartararo returns just eighth in this year’s world championship standings, having been💮 slower than 2022 at the past three GPs in Le Mans (7th), Mugello (11th) and Sachsenring (13th).
“The tyre gamble in Sachsenring didn‘t pay off, but now we know,” said Qu💝artararo, who joined only Aleix Espargaro in trying the🐬 soft rear.
"Though points-wise the German GP wasn‘t 🍃a very successful race weekend, we did learn from it, and🐷 that‘s also worth something.
“Lꦯast year things didn‘t go to plan in Assen. 🥃But it‘s still one of my favourite circuits, so I will do my best as always to get a good result.”
Team Director Massimo Meregalli added: “After two difficult race weekends, we will approac🐼h Assen with a clean slate. Assen is a circuit both our riders really like, which is good because we want to give one final push before the summer break.
“So far, the weather forecasts predict a hot but mostly dry Dutch GP. This would be ideal for us, because it allows us to use thꦆe 🍸available track time to the fullest and really get to work.”
Quartararo's team-mate Franco Morbidelli, the top Yamahaဣ across the line i൩n twelfth at Sachsenring, emphasised that qualifying woes continue to hurt their chances in the races.
"Our race pace is 𝓀pretty decent. It‘s the Friday time attack [for direct Qualifying 2 access]💃 that‘s the main thing we need to fix. So, we‘ll have to work hard and make as much progress as possible before the summer break," said the Italian.
Morbidelli's Yamaha fu🐲ture is set to be decided around the Assen weekend. Although currently twelfth in the world championship, he is only seven points behind Quartararo.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc꧟ Marquez’s injury issues.
