Fabio Quartararo Finds Form in Indonesia with Best MotoGP Sunday Since July
Fabio Quartararo delivered a much-needed performance at the Indonesian MotoGP, securing ninth place for Yamaha and recording his best Sunday Grand Prix finish since the German round in July.
Starting 12th on the grid, the 2021 world champion steadily worked his way through the field. Despite struggling during the opening five laps, Quartararo maintained his position and built momentum as the race progressed.
Quartararo Pushes Yamaha Towards the Top Eight
Quartararo showed competitive pace in the closing stages, matching the speed of the leading Aprilia riders while chasing Fabio Di Giannantonio鈥檚 Ducati. He eventually crossed the line just 0.159 seconds behind Di Giannantonio, finishing ninth.
Reflecting on the race, Quartararo described it as a great result despite the physical demands and hot conditions. He continued pushing until the finish but admitted tyre wear affected his final laps.
His ninth-place finish also matched his Sprint result, although the Sprint outcome came after Raul Fernandez and Marco Bezzecchi were eliminated in a Turn 1 collision.
Yamaha Sees Encouraging Race Pace
Quartararo finished six places ahead of Yamaha teammate Alex Rins, who struggled with inconsistent engine braking and traction control. Quartararo, meanwhile, reported some difficulty slowing the bike into Turns 1 and 10 but said his front-end feeling helped him compensate.
Yamaha team principal Massimo Meregalli praised the Frenchman鈥檚 performance, highlighting his progress through the field and consistency across the race. He said Quartararo鈥檚 late challenge for eighth place demonstrated that Yamaha had competitive race pace.
Final Yamaha Rounds Before Honda Move
The Indonesian result offers encouragement as Quartararo enters the final five rounds of his Yamaha career. The Frenchman is set to join Honda for the 2027 season, when MotoGP moves into its new 850cc engine and Pirelli tyre era.
Currently 14th in the championship, Quartararo will hope to build on this performance and finish his Yamaha chapter strongly. While ninth place does not put him back among the podium contenders, his improved Sunday pace provides a positive sign for the remaining races.
