The questionable grip of the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya has become a factor to be taken into account by the tuning fork garage, especially for one of its regular drivers: Fabio Quartararo. El Diablo, who will start from third position in the Catalunya Grand Prix, had not ruled out “damage limitation” during a weekend that seems complicated for the blue team.
However, the Frenchman considers Saturday’s a “very good” result, taking into account what was harvested on Friday. Fabio Quartararo set the third fastest time in qualifying, behind two of his main rivals in the race and on the qualifying sheet, Aleix Espargaró and Pecco Bagnaia.
“Yesterday, the truth is that it was a tough day,” the boy from the Côte d’Azur introduced during the press conference. “We didn’t find confidence even with the new tires at the end of FP2. But this morning I was able to make a good pace with the medium-medium combination, and I didn’t expect to get this pace.”
“In FP4 we wanted to try the hard one and then we went back to the middle rear and we were able to set good lap times, so I’m satisfied with the pace and also with the qualifying. I gave my best, I could have improved a little bit but not enough to get the first or second position in the time attack, but hey, I feel ready for tomorrow”, evaluated the Frenchman.
The improved track, combined with some changes to the M1 setup, contributed to a huge leap forward by the fingerboard brand. Thus, Fabio Quartararo was separated by just over two tenths from Saturday’s poleman , Aleix Espargaró.
“Everyone knows how critical the issue of tire consumption and grip on the rear tire is here. After Moto2, we already know that the level of grip traditionally drops but well, everyone is prepared for it, it affects the same everyone and well, I think everyone will have a strategy about how to manage the rear tyre”.
Fabio Quartararo announced last Thursday his renewal with Iwata for two more years, despite the difficulties presented by his Yamaha in terms of power.
“We are not the only ones with this speed, but I do think we have potential,” concluded the French driver.
