Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo puts in a world championship-winning performance at Spielberg, beaten only by Francesco Bagnaia on the “Ducati track “
“I really fought like a lion,” said World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo after his second place at the Austrian Grand Prix. Already in practice and qualifying, the Yamaha rider was the only one who could mix with the dominating Ducatis. He proved that in the race as well.
At first, what Quartararo had planned for the beginning of the race didn’t work out. Instead of moving up, he went back one position from fifth on the grid. The Frenchman was stuck there for four laps.
When pole setter Enea Bastianini dropped back due to a defect and eventually dropped out, he took over fourth place. There was already a gap to the front. But Quartararo found his rhythm and caught up step by step thanks to some 1:29 laps.
A mistake by Jorge Martin pushed him up to third on lap 16. Then, with four laps to go, he caught Jack Miller under his own steam and was beaten only and Francesco Bagnaia, who he finished 0.492s behind.
Quartararo: “Was super aggressive today “
“It was a great race. It’s just a shame that we didn’t have a good start, good first laps,” said Quartararo, explaining, “I had problems getting the front tyre up to temperature – also the rear. I saw Joan have a bad crash in turn 4.”
“It took a few laps to get the tyres warmed up. Then I was able to build up my pace. However, it was difficult to overtake. I think I was super aggressive today. I made a few mistakes, but I was able to save it every time. It was a tough but good race,” said the Frenchman.
With the Ducati dominance in Spielberg, many had not given him much chance of a podium beforehand. And Quartararo himself was under no illusions either.
The second place is all the more important: “I could feel confidence and potential again after two difficult races.” As a reminder: In Assen, Quartararo had crashed twice and came away empty-handed. In Silverstone it was only enough for eighth place.
Quartararo surprises Miller in the chicane
Now the comeback on the podium. Quartararo’s manoeuvre on Miller in the new Spielberg chicane a few laps before the end of the race caused a particular stir. “It was perhaps one of the best overtaking manoeuvres of my career,” said the World Champion himself. “I would rank it at least in the top three.”
“He braked a bit earlier than before and I braked a bit too late. So I said to myself, okay, I have to try. It was a place where it was impossible to overtake at the beginning of the weekend and even yesterday. So I thought, surely he won’t expect it there. And it worked. “
SURPRISE MOVE! @FabioQ20 stuns @jackmilleraus in the middle of the chicane! AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/i1jizVznwd
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) August 21, 2022
Miller admits, “I was surprised how fast he was able to pass me there. Looking at it again, it looks like I was slow as a granny. But I was struggling with the left tyre sidewall at that point. so I didn’t want to change too fast to risk a crash.”
“He, on the other hand, went full attack and pulled it off. That was impressive. It was a 10 out of 10,” he congratulated Quartararo. “I tried to attack back in turn 3, but he defended the line and then even pulled out a small gap.”
It almost got really tight
The Yamaha rider was then able to halve the gap to Bagnaia. But it was not enough for an attack. Would it have been any different with two more laps on the clock?
“There are 28 laps for everyone. In hindsight it’s always easy to say you could have won with two more laps. Of course I was very strong out the back, but I came in too late at the front, so in that respect it doesn’t matter,” insists the World Champion.
In the overall standings he has lost five points to Bagnaia, who is now 44 points behind in third place. Aleix Espargaro holds second place. The Aprilia rider is now 32 points behind after finishing sixth in Spielberg.
Asked about Bagnaia’s current strong form, Quartararo said: “I already said in Silverstone that Pecco is the man of the recent races and the one to beat. But of course I have two opponents: Pecco and Aleix. We will see how it will develop in the next races.”
“I’m really looking forward to Misano and also the overseas races. I think it will be nice to race at tracks we haven’t been able to visit since 2019. Of course Pecco and Ducati are super fast at Misano, but so are we there. This race gives me a good boost for the future.”