Quartararo Dominates A Packed MotoGP™ Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya

The sun beamed, the fans baked, Michelin tyres were shredded and MotoGP was a thrilling blur once more around the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya for one of the most atmospheric Grands Prix of the 2022 season so far. Over 60,000 spectators took up a spot around the sweeping course with its half-mile straight and relentless action through the MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 classes.

Radical corner slides, close position swapping, ferocious acceleration, and ‘ridiculous’ sights such as the world champion, Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, dragging his shoulder along the ground around Turn 5 at more than 100mph, were just some of the treats on display.

For 31 years MotoGP has scraped the kerbstones at the Catalan course, a short distance from the Mediterranean city and from the epic Spanish coastline itself. The last nine editions of the race have been home to the special Monster Energy flavour, with Rig Riots, action sports demos, the beach ‘compound’, and a party vibe.

Quartararo was in his element. The Frenchman triumphed for the first time in his career at Catalunya in 2018 and provided a resounding repeat of his superiority with a lights-to-flag streak away from the pack. The temperatures were as high as the pace but #20 sizzled to a tenth victory in the premier class. “I was not expecting that consistency and to be that fast,” FQ admitted. “The start was super-important and the strategy was not to go to the limit but to push hard. It was a super-long race and you start to think about stupid things on the bike…but…I was good!”