Quartararo: “No regrets, I gave my maximum”

With eight podiums, including three victories, fabio quartararo clearly has nothing to be ashamed of this 2022 season. The outgoing world champion was well aware that he did not have the weapons to hold off his opponents, particularly those riding Ducati.

Relaxed and smiling from the moment he arrived at the Valencia circuit, he knew very well that retaining his crown was going to be complicated, but he didn't give up: “this weekend, it's all-in,” a- he notably repeated several times. 

But by finishing at the foot of the podium, it was unfortunately not enough. “Today, I have no regrets, I gave my best until the end,” he stressed. I had a problem with the front tire, so no regrets (…). After the race it was emotional, because I am a fighter, a winner, I want to be first, so the fifteen minutes after the race were difficult. It's now over, we have to close the page and open a new chapter, it starts on Tuesday and I can't wait. »

On the season, Quartararo admits that his only regret could be Australia. “It was the only race in which I didn't really drive with my instincts,” he said. So, of course, I have regrets about this one. But throughout the year, I didn't have any, I always gave my maximum. I made mistakes, we made them with the team, but these are things that can happen. »

Focus on 2023

The pilots MotoGP will therefore meet on Tuesday for the first official pre-season 2023 test. This day will be crucial for the manufacturers who will have to define the directions to follow during the winter while waiting for the next scheduled run in Malaysia, at the beginning of February. “I think that from Tuesday, we will take a step forward,” confides Quartararo. I think we have several big problems. One of them will be resolved shortly, I'm thinking of top speed in particular. Regarding aero and passing speed… More than passing speed, what we are missing is the fact of really turning. This is what we will have to improve. »

What Quartararo is asking for is a bike capable of being as fast in the race as in testing. The Frenchman is always among the strongest when he rides alone, but against his opponents, it's much more complicated. “We need a bike to fight and not seek 100% performance. Obviously, in practice or qualifying, we need the best bike, but we also need a bike to fight and stay in contact. Today, facing Binder, when braking for turns 8 and 14, I was much faster, but when accelerating I couldn't hold on. »

There is no room for error on Tuesday for Yamaha… if that is the case, the Iwata factory will have less than two months to turn around before the season kicks off in Portugal.