HAVING gone from newcomers to one of the best teams on the grid this season in the span of only eight races, all eyes will be on Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (SRT) when action begins at the German Motorcycle Grand Prix this weekend.
SRT go into the round having achieved their best-combined result of the year to date at Assen last week where rookie Fabio Quartararo notched his second podium and third pole of the season while Franco Morbidelli placed a commendable fifth.
At 3.671km, the Sachsenring circuit in Germany is currently the shortest track in the World Championships and is also one where Morbidelli has tasted success before.
The Italian won there in 2017 en route to clinching the Moto2 world title. He, however, was forced to miss the race last year after fracturing his hand in a practice crash.
Morbidelli, who rode a Honda last year, believes his Yamaha YZR-M1 will be well suited to the circuit.
“I’m not sure what to expect at Sachsenring but it’s a circuit that I really like. I’ve always been fast there on a Moto2 bike, but I didn’t ride last year on the MotoGP bike because I was injured,” said Morbidelli.
“We’re going in with a clean sheet of paper and with a really good feeling in the last ten laps of the race at Assen that we can build on.
“The team and I have a really great working method now. It’s a narrow track with flowing corners that will suit the bike, and I feel confident going there on a Yamaha.”
Quartararo, who is still recovering from injury, echoed his teammate’s sentiment in regard to M1’s ability at the circuit though does not have the same fondness for the track.
“Sachsenring is a circuit that can be really good for us. It’ll be positive to arrive there because in Assen, I was able to rest my arm injury in the left corners and Sachsenring (also) has a lot of left corners,” said Quartararo.
“It isn’t my favourite circuit, but with the physical condition that I’m in, it can be a good track for us.”
The Frenchman underwent arm pump surgery on his right arm to correct compartment syndrome before the Catalan GP last month.
Quartararo and Morbidelli are currently sixth (67 points) and 12th (45) respectively while Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider Hafizh Syahrin is 24th (three) in the overall MotoGP standings.