“Irregular” MotoGP form “hurts a lot” – Quartararo
Fabio Quartararo says his “irregular” form in 2020 “hurts a lot” as it has allowed his MotoGP championship hopes to vanish following a crash in the European Grand Prix.
The Petronas SRT Yamaha rider came in 2020 as the favourite following a breakout rookie campaign last year, and only added to this when he won the first two grands prix at Jerez.
However, his only other podium in 2020 was his Catalan GP win, and he managed just one further top five – a far cry from the seven podiums he scored across 2019.
Quartararo still trailed European GP winner Joan Mir by 14 points ahead of the race, but a crash on the opening lap at Turn 8 while trying to come through from 11th on the grid all but ended his title hopes.
“It’s hurting a lot because for me and the consequences we have with the bike that we’re struggling, I’m not happy about my season,” he said when asked about his inconsistent form this year.
“Of course, when everything is going well, everything is perfect. But unfortunately, Le Mans was already a track where the bike was straight away perfect, we could fight for the win [but I was only ninth in the wet].
“But it’s a win or nothing, or we are super good or we are super lost. For me, it’s still strange that after the two races in Austria I was leading the championship.
“It was strange after the crash in Misano and [the Emilia Romagna] fourth, I was only one point from Andrea [Dovizioso].
“Last year I would be fifth or sixth, so this year for me one of the only riders who makes a good job is Joan, he’s consistent and that’s why he is there [leading the championship].
“I’m really frustrated, but in general it’s a tough season apart from the wins.”
Quartararo says he crashed in reaction to Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro sliding off in front of him, and likened it to his Silverstone accident last year when he was forced to brake when Alex Rins had a moment in front of him.
The Frenchman did re-join and salvaged 14th, but had to contend with a broken ride height adjuster which kept “automatically” engaging.
Now 37 points adrift of Mir with two rounds to go, Quartararo admits he lost the championship today.
“Of course, I lose the championship today,” he said. “Then it’s Aragon 1 where we had, I would not say a fight, but we wanted to start Aragon 1 with less pressure in the front [tyre], but with the Yamaha protocol they said no and I had the worst race of my life in Aragon, where I got zero points when I actually had the pace to fight for top five, six.
“There was the second race where we lose the championship.
“I think it’s important to finish in the best way as possible, but we will need to change many things next year to make it work because it looks like the other factories work a little bit better than our factory.”
Mir wasn’t “worried” about not winning a MotoGP race in 2020
Rins vows to continue title pursuit despite points deficit
How Ducati has drawn first blood in the 2022 MotoGP title race
The 2021 MotoGP season may have only just ended but preparations for 2022 are well underway following a two-day test at Jerez this week. Ducati has hit the ground running while a lack of progress dominated Yamaha’s and world champion Fabio Quartararo’s test. While no battle lines have been drawn yet for 2022, it appears Ducati has already drawn first blood...
Why Suzuki's quest for a new MotoGP boss may be too late
Suzuki is on the search for a new team manager after its decision not to replace Davide Brivio at the start of 2021 was backed up by its unsuccessful bid to help Joan Mir defend his 2020 MotoGP world title. But whoever Shinichi Sahara appoints next, it may have already come too late to convince Mir to stick with the project
How Rossi got the perfect send-off to his MotoGP career
The greatest chapter in MotoGP history came to a close at the Valencia Grand Prix as Valentino Rossi bid farewell after 26 seasons of grand prix racing. While his run to a strong 10th was a pleasing end to his time in MotoGP, it was what happened at the front of the grid that capped the Italian's ideal send-off
Why MotoGP's under-fire graduate has a point to prove
OPINION: MotoGP-bound Darryn Binder was already under the microscope as his jump from Moto3 to join RNF's new top-class team was announced. But his crash with title hopeful Dennis Foggia caused significant consternation among the ranks - with many current riders suggesting the top level should be harder to break into as a result
How Portugal exposed the biggest threat to Quartararo
Fabio Quartararo’s first DNF of his title-winning 2021 MotoGP season couldn’t have come at a better time. But the events of the Yamaha rider’s Algarve Grand Prix exposed the M1’s well-known major weakness, which could threaten his championship defence given the increasingly Ducati-heavy makeup of the grid heading into 2022
What's really fuelling junior bike racing's dangerous aggression
The pressure shouldered by young riders is at the root of the increased on-track aggression seen in lower categories of late, which motorcycling's governing bodies want to curb with new rules. But will stopping under-18s from racing in the world championship and capping grid sizes prevent the often desperate acts of youths pursuing their MotoGP dreams?
The three factors that crowned MotoGP's newest champion at Misano
The prospect of Fabio Quartararo clinching the 2021 MotoGP world championship title at Misano appeared small after struggling to 15th in qualifying, while main rival Francesco Bagnaia took pole. Here's how the Yamaha rider turned it around, with help from an ill-fated Bagnaia tyre choice, to secure the crown with two races to spare
Marco Simoncelli: Remembering MotoGP's ultimate maverick 10 years on
Saturday 23 October marks the 10th anniversary of Marco Simoncelli's death. The one-time 250cc world champion and double MotoGP podium finisher was the ultimate maverick character with big hair, a big personality and an even bigger talent. Motorsport.com pays tribute to a much-missed figure, a decade on.