Marquez “expected much more” from Quartararo in 2020
Injured MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez admits he “expected much more” from erstwhile 2020 standings leader Fabio Quartararo after his double victory at Jerez in July.
Marquez has been out since an aborted comeback attempt from a broken right arm suffered in a crash in the Spanish Grand Prix, and looks set to be sidelined until at least the end of October.
Petronas Yamaha’s Quartararo won the Spanish GP at Jerez and the following Andalusian GP at the same venue to take the lead in the championship, but scored just 20 points between the Czech and San Marino races.
This lost him the championship lead to Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso, with Quartararo now one point behind the Italian after a penalty in the Emilia Romagna GP dropped him to fourth from third.
Dovizioso won the Austrian GP, but has largely struggled for form as he has found adapting to Michelin’s new rear tyre construction difficult.
Having pegged both Dovizioso and Quartararo as his favourites to take the 2020 title, Marquez in an interview published by Honda says he expected more from both.
“It is true that in Austria I said Quartararo or Dovizioso were the favourites [to fight for the title],” Marquez said. “But, honestly, I expected more from them.
“I especially expected much more from Quartararo, because he won the first two races riding at a great level, and now I don't know what is happening to him.
“It is costing him a lot, even in one of his strengths: qualifying.
“Dovizioso is consistent, but he needs more speed if he wants to win the title because we see that [Maverick] Vinales is there, just like [Joan] Mir.
“We have eight or nine riders [covered by] 25 points, so it will be interesting to see what happens until the end of the season.”
Six riders – including four first-time victors - have won in the first seven races, with Dovizioso, Quartararo, Vinales and Mir covered by just four points after Sunday’s Emilia Romagna GP.
But consistency has been largely absent from the field and no clear title favourite has emerged, with Marquez admitting the situation is “difficult to understand”.
“It seems that nobody wants to win this world championship; no one wants to lead it,” he added.
“It is difficult to understand the situation, but if you are a rider you surely understand it a little better.”
Marquez has begun training again following a second surgery on his arm to replace the damaged titanium plate and says he is beginning to take “great steps forward” – but doesn’t know when he will get back on his bike.
“When a rider hears the doctors say that he will be out for three months, it is a shock,” he said.
“Now, after a first period in which everything was very slow and in which I did not notice improvements, I begin to feel that I am taking great steps forward.
“At what point am I? I know I am closer to getting back on the bike, but I don't know if it will be in a month, in two weeks or in two months. The body will tell.”
Previous article
Podcast: MotoGP’s title battle remains wide open
Next article
Quartararo: I'm struggling to overtake on the Yamaha
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Drivers | Marc Marquez , Fabio Quartararo |
| Author | Lewis Duncan |
Repsol Honda Team - Pol Espargaró Q&A
Repsol Honda Team - Marc Marquez Q&A
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
Alex Marquez's form was one of MotoGP 2020's biggest surprises and, by firmly stepping out of his six-time world champion brother Marc's shadow, he proved a few people wrong. Not that he cares about this, as he tells Lewis Duncan
How Yamaha's new MotoGP era can unchain Vinales
After the electrifying start to his Yamaha MotoGP career in 2017, Maverick Vinales has struggled for consistency. Many anticipate that the arrival of Fabio Quartararo could spell disaster, but the departure of Valentino Rossi could be just the impetus he needs.
Does KTM really need 'super engine' for MotoGP title challenge?
Fears from rival MotoGP manufacturers that KTM would build a 'super engine' for 2021 have ultimately come to nothing with the revealation that the RC16 hasn't been radically changed over the winter. But does it really need that to win the title?
How Ducati's latest Aussie union can return it to MotoGP glory
Australians on Ducatis is an iconic partnership, the marque's last one yielding its sole MotoGP crown to date. But its latest Aussie union with the often underestimated Jack Miller can end this drought.
The "balls out" battle between MotoGP's true greats
Senna vs Prost is regularly cited as motorsport's greatest rivalry. But it can easily be argued Rainey vs Schwantz can stake that claim. That rivalry was in full swing during the 1991 500cc season, remembered fondly by both stars 30 years on...
The "warrior" MotoGP rookie KTM was right to back
The 2020 MotoGP campaign featured a standout pair of rookies, but one flew under the radar as he adjusted to a shock step-up armed with very little racing experience. However as his veteran team boss explains, the faith shown in him was not misplaced
Why Suzuki's Brivio replacement must come from within
With its charismatic leader Davide Brivio leaving for Formula 1, the Suzuki MotoGP squad he turned into a world championship-winning force in 2020 has a major recruitment headache that it needs to resolve carefully.
Why Alpine's latest signing could be its best hope of F1 glory
The return of Fernando Alonso to the renamed Alpine team is a sure sign of the team's ambition. But its latest appointment from MotoGP could be an even bigger coup as it seeks to end a barren run stretching back to Alonso's 2006 world title
