Quartararo: “I have the knife between my teeth”

Virtually unbeatable since 2020 in Jerez, fabio quartararo had a tricky first free practice session on the Andalusian track this Friday morning. The Frenchman actually made a mistake at the last corner. “I had a difficult five minutes after the fall,” said the world champion. I couldn't breathe for a little while. »

Hit in the crotch, it is not this error which is at the origin of the Frenchman's pain, but rather the fact of getting back on his motorbike afterwards. “It’s my fault,” he smiled. It's not even the bike. We put something on the tank (supports, editor's note) and I jumped on it... I feel a bit stupid (laughs), because I fell, I had nothing, but when I got back on the motorcycle… Maybe it would have been better to lie about the tires… but I have to say I was stupid (laughs). »

This fall is similar to the one he suffered at Silverstone last year (loss from behind). “The motorcycle turns over suddenly,” says Quartararo. This is the second time this has happened to me, it was a bit like that at Silverstone. You can feel if you can catch up or not... And when you go over a wet track, it's practically impossible to catch up. »

The Frenchman also explains that his fall this morning and the errors that followed were nothing exceptional. “On the wet parts, I fell,” he emphasizes. Then I braked too late, putting on a medium at the front which I felt really bad with. I felt the tire was moving a lot. I didn't want to risk falling again while trying to turn so I preferred to pull straight ahead. I then made a mistake by downshifting. »

A crash which connected right where you don't want it! 😅 @FabioQ20 had an interesting slip off in #MotoGP FP1! #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/nIn8mvctIj

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 29, 2022

Author of the best time, Quartararo has not yet had the opportunity to judge the pace of his opponents. “I think the track changes a lot between Friday and Saturday,” he said. Tomorrow, after qualifying, first we will see who is on the first three rows and who has the best pace. But today it is impossible to say who will be there. Of course, from what I've seen, Bagnaia, Aleix... have a solid rhythm (...) I'm quite happy with this first day, because usually, the feeling is rather strange on Friday. »

We're just gonna leave this pillow here 😅😂

Jokes aside, we're glad you're okay 😊#MonsterYamaha | #MotoGP | #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/bURRmxfQ23

- Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP (@YamahaMotoGP) April 29, 2022

Is Quartararo on the same dynamic as in Portimão? “Yes, on Friday in Jerez, I never had a good feeling... but you don't set this kind of times if the feeling is not good. I ride a little more aggressively. Tomorrow, we will be a little more flexible by trying to achieve the same times, or even better. We have to be at the limit... with our bike, if you don't put yourself at the limit, you're out of the Top 10. Every time I go out, I have the knife between my teeth... If you start to get say that you have to attack less on the first day, the feeling changes whereas if you attack from the start, you know what to expect. »

Compared to the winter tests which took place on this same Jerez track last November and the Spanish GP, little has changed on the YZR-M1. Among the notable changes, however, is the aerodynamic fairing. “I think the fins help us quite a bit here,” he said. But there are corners where it disturbs us a little. It helps us accelerate out of turns 1, 5, 10 and 13. But at turns 11 and 12, I don't feel as comfortable as last year. »

Will Quartararo manage to take a fifth pole position in a row on the Jerez circuit? Answer Saturday from 14:10 p.m. with the qualifications.