Quartararo: “Second was the best possible result today”

After a Ducati quintuple in qualifying, we expected unchallenged domination from the Bologna factory in the race... but that was without counting on fabio quartararo and Aleix Espargaro, who managed to get on the podium, just like in Jerez a few weeks ago. 

Quartararo had to wet his leather to hold on to the armada of Italian machines. Fast in the winding sectors, he lost all his efforts in a few seconds on the long Mugello straight. “I was on the limit all the time,” he said. Especially at one point with Marini and Bezzecchi (…). It’s good to have managed to stay second and score those 20 valuable points. »

💥🥊😈@FabioQ20 fought like a lion today!

He dedicated that 2nd place to Jason Dupasquier, who is always in our hearts ❤️#MonsterYamaha | #MotoGP | #ItalianGP | @MotoGP pic.twitter.com/DJgMRb8Yrs

—Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP (@YamahaMotoGP) May 29, 2022

Unlike in Jerez where the world champion was unable to do anything to make up for his slight deficit over Francesco Baganaia, he admits that in Mugello, the situation was different. “At Jerez, I knew I couldn't do anything, because our pace was really similar and the temperature of the front tire was too high,” recalled Quartararo, who now has an eight-point lead overall over Aleix Espargaro. Today our pace was similar; I was faster in one sector, he in another… We were doing a bit of a yo-yo. I knew I couldn't catch him, but there were people behind me, so I couldn't slow down. I was attacking and didn't even look at the scoreboard, I just told myself that if I caught Pecco (Bagnaia), that meant I was fast. Second was the best possible result today. »

The fight for the podium spots is at fever pitch! 😱@PeccoBagnaia takes over at the front while @ Luca_Marini_97 is all over @FabioQ20 for 3rd! ⚔️#MotoGP | #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/HLbK5OMU3n

- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 29, 2022

During this Italian GP, ​​Quartararo used a new aerodynamic fairing aimed at giving him a better top speed. If he gained a little, it was by sacrificing other areas. So much so that he and his team decided to equip the YZR-M1 with the older version. “I expected more top speed, I got a little more, but you have to weigh the positive and the negative, and this fairing has more negatives than positives,” he explained. We said to ourselves: “We gain 1 km/h, but we have to put the old fairing on, because we lose too much in other areas.” It was the right decision. We will try the new fairing again perhaps in Barcelona. But if it doesn't work and interferes with my riding style, we'll go back immediately. »

Heading to Barcelona…

See you in a few days at Montmelo near Barcelona for the GP of Catalonia, ninth stage of the season. Last year, Quartararo was fighting for victory against Miguel Oliveira when his leather suddenly opened. Penalized for riding with a suit that was not closed correctly, he ultimately inherited sixth place. “It’s a circuit that I really like,” he said. Last year I was very quick, my suit opened so we will make sure it stays closed (laughs). I will try to be as fast as in 2021, because the pace was really good and I am going into it confident. »