There are less than 24 hours left for MotoGP to start the action on the Losail track, starting a new course in which Fabio Quartararo will fight to defend the title. However, the French rider believes that in order to reach the top, Yamaha has to respond to the demands of its riders, especially in terms of speed.
“I don’t feel any more pressure, if I’m here it’s because I’ve achieved something great,” explained the Frenchman at the first press conference of 2022.
“But I have to separate last year from this one. 2021 was extraordinary, but now we are all starting from scratch and what matters is being the fastest during the season with maximum consistency.”
“We expect more speed, obviously, but there is what it is. We know that we have to give 100% in any case and I am very excited to start”.
The title is the ultimate goal for the French rider, but also for the remaining 23 riders on the MotoGP grid. At the moment, for Quartararo there is no proper name that threatens his search for the title.
“It is so difficult to choose a name. Last year there were five or six drivers, but now I could say that anyone is a rival. In the test the times have been very tight.”
“It’s hard to focus on just a few. You have to wait a bit during the season to see who those clear rivals are,” he added.
The MotoGP riders are coming off some pre-season tests where the times have been very close, and this competitiveness will mark the basis of a season that seems interesting, not only for the stands.
“This is wonderful from a show standpoint. Five or 10 years ago there were few drivers in the lead and now it’s much tighter.”
“The level is higher, and we are all much closer, it will be fun.”
Aerodynamics is a fundamental area in the development of prototypes. Regarding the imminent evolution of the holeshot , Fabio joins the list of riders who believe that “it is starting to be too much”.
“For me, the initial procedure of hitting the button and that’s it was better,” defends the Frenchman.
Finally, despite achieving greater notoriety in his native country, the pilot from the Côte d’Azur considers that his life “is the same” after becoming champion.
“My life is still the same. Besides, I think it should continue like this,” the Frenchman concluded.
