Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo hopes for a turnaround from Portimao and also takes his team to task regarding the further development of the M1
For World Champion Fabio Quartararo, the start to the 2022 MotoGP season did not go as planned. In four races, the Yamaha rider only managed one podium finish in Mandalika – and that in wet conditions. Apart from that, the rear top-10 finishes still landed him just inside the points.
Quartararo is even more hopeful for this weekend’s European opener with the Portuguese Grand Prix. The Frenchman was already victorious at the Portimao circuit last year. And also looking ahead to this weekend, he says: “I think it’s not a bad track for us.”
However, Quartararo also knows: “It can be really good or really bad. In the first year I could be in the top four at the beginning and overtake, that was really good. But in the second race I was behind the Ducatis and couldn’t keep my pace, which was a disaster. “
Full attack in qualifying
According to him, a lot will depend on qualifying and the grid position he can fight for. “My plan for qualifying is to push like hell to put myself in the best possible position. I have no other plan than that,” said the 23-year-old.
“Already in Austin I gave it my all but made a mistake,” he said, looking back at the qualifying session at the Circuit of The Americas, in which he crashed and ended up only sixth on the grid. But going to the limit – and beyond – “is the only way for me to really challenge the others. “
“In Indonesia,” his only podium race so far, “the track was better for us. I went to the limit and it worked out. But it’s really tough because all the other manufacturers have made a big step. It’s not that I’m getting worse in qualifying, it’s that I’m pushing the limit. “
Can Yamaha go one better?
As Quartararo knows only too well, Yamaha are currently treading water compared to their rivals. But the Frenchman hopes that with the start of the European season, the first updates will not be long in coming. “At the moment I don’t know much new about it, but we need to step up,” warns the World Champion.
“Imagine: I was happy to finish seventh in Austin. That sounds ridiculous because I was world champion last year and I was happy to finish in that position in Austin. So we need new parts. “
Even though the upcoming tracks – Portimao is followed by Jerez and Le Mans – should suit Yamaha, Quartararo remains cautious: “It’s true that Jerez and Le Mans are really important tracks for us. But we can’t afford to make any mistakes. If we want to fight for the championship, mistakes are taboo. “
Still fifth in the World Championship
“So on tracks like this, it’s all about being on the podium and not making mistakes, because otherwise it’s going to be difficult to get a good position at the end of the year,” he continues. He is fifth in the current World Championship standings, 17 points behind.
The fact that he is not further behind, given his mixed results, is most surprising to Quartararo himself. “I’m still impressed because I scored a podium, P9, P8, P7 and I’m still fifth in the championship. And after four races I’m not there yet.”
“To be honest, Argentina and Austin were really, really tough. If you look at the pace, we are always very fast when we are on our own. But as soon as someone overtakes you on a straight, you’re blocked,” he says, addressing the top speed disadvantage of his Yamaha. “Let’s see how it will be here. “
