JULY 29, 2020

(AFP Photo/Javier Soriano)
Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Petronas Yamaha SRT YZR-M1) dominated the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia on Sunday, in brutally hot conditions. Maverick Viñales (No. 12 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YZR-M1) and Valentino Rossi (No. 46 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YZR-M1) had a memorable fight for the podium, with Viñales finishing second and the 41-year-old Rossi recording his 199th MotoGP™ podium, his 235th across all classes. It was the first time since Phillip Island 2014 that Yamaha had three machines on the podium. But no one had an answer for Quartararo, who made no mistakes in the searing heat - the temperature reached 40 degree Celsius and an estimated 60 degrees on the track - to take his second consecutive victory, cementing his lead in the Championship over second place Viñales. "That was tough," said Quartararo. The 21-year-old French rider has now won more races at the elite level than he did in four seasons in Moto2, where he recorded one victory, and Moto3, where he twice made the podium but never won. "It feels so good to make back-to-back wins," he said. Quartararo now has a 50-point lead over the reigning champion Marc Marquez, who was absent with a broken arm after his crash in the season opener. Viñales is second, 40 points behind, after finishing runner-up for the second straight race. Viñales regretted a mistake on the first lap. "I tried to overtake Fabio but then I went wide and Fabio and Valentino overtook me," he said. As Quartararo took the lead, Rossi, who started on the second row of the grid, jumped to second, overtaking Viñales. "It was impossible to breathe," Viñales said. "I was stuck behind Valentino and I could not breathe. I was destroyed. Maybe the heat from the other bikes." While Quartararo disappeared ahead in the heat haze, the two Yamaha works riders had to fend off challenges from the Pramac-Ducati pair of Italian Francesco Bagnaia (No. 63), who climbed to second before his engine failed, and Australian Jack Miller (No. 43), who crashed. Only 13 of the 21 starters finished. (Thank you to AFP)
(AFP Photo/Javier Soriano)
Rossi (No. 46 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YZR-M1) and Viñales (No. 12 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YZR-M1) battled memorably for the podium.

(McLaren)
McLaren and Gulf Oil International Ltd have announced a multi-year strategic partnership, which will see Gulf partner with luxury supercar company McLaren Automotive and the McLaren Racing team. The partnership reunites two famous brands that have a long-standing and successful history together. Gulf’s link with McLaren started in 1968 and continued until the end of the 1973 season, with Gulf and McLaren enjoying success in both Formula 1 and the Can-Am series, in which the partnership won over 40 races. The partnership was then renewed at the Le Mans 24 Hours in the 1990s, with the famous McLaren F1 GTR running in Gulf colors throughout the decade. From 2021, Gulf will become the preferred lubricant supplier to McLaren Automotive. Gulf branding will also be displayed at McLaren Automotive’s PURE customer events that take place around the world. In addition, a small and exclusive number of customers will be given the option to have their McLaren supercar hand-painted by McLaren Special Operations, the firm’s bespoke division, in Gulf liveries and colors that echo the famous F1 GTR Le Mans car that raced in the 1990s. To launch the partnership, the Gulf brand will be integrated into the McLaren Formula 1 team from the British Grand Prix 2020 on Friday, July 31 – Sunday, August 2. The logo will be represented by McLaren F1 personnel throughout the 2020 F1 season, including via race drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz and the McLaren pit crew. Gulf branding will also appear on the engine covers and wing mirrors of the McLaren MCL35 race cars.