Fabio Quartararo was the shining light for Yamaha at the Sachsenring on Saturday, qualifying on the front row, in second, for tomorrow’s German GP.

With the remaining M1’s failing to place higher than 16th, the Frenchman put on another stellar performance as he showcased confident and consistent pace throughout the two free practice and final qualifying sessions.

“It was a positive day for us,” Quartararo said from Germany as the day wrapped up.

“It was quite good in the morning, we managed to get great laps, and in the afternoon we decided to make the FP4 non stop - which was pretty interesting to see how the tyre reacted because it was totally different from when you stop and come back. I think that we have something to improve for the last laps [of the race]. Qualifying was great, I gave my 100% and we are all struggling a little bit. I expected to have a little better feeling on the front, and in turning but I managed to get the Yamaha on the front row and I think is a really great result for us today.

“During FP1 and FP2 we made some runs, stopped and then went back out again but for the tyre this is completely different. I feel on this track, especially, that when you do 20 laps in a row the tyre reacts in a totally different way. You can see that 20 laps on the tyre when you make stops, is much more fresh than when you do 20 laps in a row, not really on the degradation, but more on the heat of the tyre because there’s so much left corner. It’s good that we already have that experience and I will know how to manage it, or try to manage it, and improve at the maximum.

“We all know that starting from the front row in this track is so important. I know, for me, it’s the most difficult track to overtake. Marc and Miguel are really strong. I mean the front row guys are really fast but I think it’s the top six, because also Jack is really strong, so it will be an interesting race but I think that it can also be really fun” he added.

Much of Saturday’s action was overshadowed by discussions surrounding the on-track antics of waiting for a tow, both in Moto3 and, more bizarrely, in MotoGP. Quartararo looked to be caught up in the traffic as qualifying concluded with the Frenchman repeatedly choosing to dispatch his laps alone.

“I have not so much to say because for me I feel it’s a little bit dangerous but I do [my laps] on my own,” he said when asked his thoughts on the incidents and if the riders in question should be penalised.

“It’s better for me and also for the tyres and everything, to keep them warm I feel much more confidence to start the lap. At the moment is something that I don’t really need and I feel also more safe this way.

“If they [treat us] like Moto3 I will be happy, because I’m not really a rider that waits a lot but I think we are an example for the young guys. I don’t really feel the necessity, so I don’t really know if a tow is really helping or not. In Moto3 it’s more about the slipstream and everything but I think for MotoGP it’s different - for some riders it’s helping a lot, for me, not so much. I’m not part of the race direction, or the marshals, so I just let them work!” he concluded.