Rather promising first day for Quartararo at the Red Bull Ring

It is a track that is still wet, but drying, which welcomed the pilots of the MotoGP this Friday morning for the first free practice session. Despite changing conditions, fabio quartararo still managed to set the fifth fastest time. 

On a dry track in the afternoon, the world champion finished fourth overall over the two sessions. The new chicane probably has something to do with it. “It’s the first time I’ve been in the Top 3 in this sector since we came here,” he confides. I think it can only be better. On the distance on the distance of the race, I think it can affect. In turn 2b, I think it could slip a little. The left side is already super soft, one more braking, one more acceleration. It can only affect us a little on the rear tire. »

As pointed out by his compatriot Johann Zarco, the introduction of this new chicane makes it possible to better negotiate the third turn, a very tight hairpin on the right. “I remember turn 3 was one of my strong points last year, but it was also a point where I lost, the line being so long, I was losing time. It's true that it's easier to be regular, but you can't have everything. For us, I think the chicane is already better. »

Quartararo is rather satisfied with this first day. “We were expecting rain, but it was dry,” he said. I would have preferred the rain because, honestly, our bike is similar to last year and as soon as we leave, we are already in the bath while the others have a little more preparation. But when we see 7 Ducatis in the first 10, I think they are already there…”

Towards a new format from 2023

On Saturday, the FIM, Dorna and IRTA are expected to announce the introduction of a new Grand Prix weekend format including a sprint race on Saturday and a race on Sunday. This new program is not really to Quartararo's taste. “I think it’s totally stupid,” he says. It's not me who makes the decisions on the race format, but I think we're entering into a format that is totally stupid. From time to time we do as in F1, I think it can be interesting, but (a race) every Saturday, I think there are circuits where physically, we whip, like Assen, Mugello… at the end of the race, we are rinsed. Knowing that there is another race the next day, honestly, I don't think it's really right to do that without asking the drivers' opinions. In any case, I wasn't asked for mine. »