Marco Bezzecchi
Fabio Quartararo’s Spanish Grand Prix podium was a shock result in many ways, but helps to confirm the progress of Yamaha over the winter.
The Frenchman took pole at the Grand Prix of Spain, and managed a comfortable second place on Sunday after holding off Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia.
Quartararo looked quick all weekend, and might have won the sprint if he hadn’t crashed. It was a frustrating outcome, but he bounced back heroically the following day.
After all the investment and effort Yamaha have put in, it finally seems that they have made some meaningful progress, after elevating themselves to second in the MotoGP constructors’ standings.
Quartararo was ‘unreal’ before his sprint crash and flew off the line. It showed that his bike may be strong in plenty of areas now.
Teammate Rins may have given Yamaha a problem in development by having a tricky riding style. It could change their upgrade path at some stage.
Alex Rins clapped Fabio Quartararo after heroic Spanish Grand Prix result for Yamaha
With Rins’ struggles this year, it would be easy for him to wallow in the disappointment of his performances.
The Spaniard sits 17th in the riders’ standings with just 17 points, 33 less than Quartararo has after five events.
However, that hasn’t prevented him from being a good human being and teammate still. Journalist Borja Gonzalez told Motociclismo that he saw a classy gesture from Rins after the race.
He saw the 29-year-old clapping with his team, who were jubilant and cheering after their first second place for three years. He also offered an insight into Rins’ words after the event.
“He told me exactly the same thing that people don’t know seeing how the bike is, and seeing the data, what an incredible job the French rider [Qaurtararo] is doing,” he said.
READ MORE: Cal Crutchlow shows his class with comment on Alex Rins’ post after Spanish Grand Prix crash
Is Alex Rins at risk of losing his MotoGP seat for 2026?
Rins hasn’t been himself on a MotoGP bike for quite a while now. Whether it’s because he needs a reset or because injuries have caught up with him, he just isn’t delivering.
Fortunately for him, he has some stability and signed an extension through the end of 2026 last year. In other words, Yamaha would have to pay him not to race before then.
But at the age he is now, he should have plenty to offer still. Just look at how Marc Marquez is performing at 32.
If he can find a way to go quicker, he will boost his chances of remaining on the grid in 2027, with new regulations that may tend to his riding style a bit more.
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