Fabio Quartararo arrives in Assen after signing his third victory of the season, the second in a row for Yamaha. During the German event, the French driver left an indelible mark on the Sachsenring, presenting a margin of almost 5 seconds over his closest rivals, Johann Zarco and Jack Miller.
Full of motivation and with an advantage of 34 points over Aleix Espargaró, the rider from the Côte d’Azur is ready to start the second half of the MotoGP season.
“It was a very good first part,” Quartararo introduced at the Dutch Grand Prix press conference. “Qatar, Argentina and Austin were quite tough, and during those months I was complaining too much about top speed and I didn’t focus so much on my driving style,” said the Frenchman.
“When we got to Europe I was able to focus more on that and I got great results. I can say that we have been able to get podiums in almost all the races, except for Le Mans. So we have had a fantastic first ten races.”
On the verge of a favorable weekend for Yamaha , Fabio Quartararo analyzes his strengths on a track where he took victory last year.
“I have seen that the [weather] forecast has changed and we have better conditions for the weekend. It doesn’t rain anymore, and I have improved my driving in the wet, but on a circuit like Assen, what you aspire to is to have a dry track.
“It’s one of the circuits that I enjoy the most and I think it’s one of the most classic and mythical circuits on the calendar, so we hope to have a dry race. All the drivers aspire to a victory here, and that they have counted on me in the Walk of Fame is an honor.”
In this line, the Frenchman does not rule out the threat of his closest rival on the time sheet, Aleix Espargaró. “You never know what to expect from Aleix [Espargaró] In all the circuits he takes many steps forward. From the beginning his name has been seen there, so I expect him fighting for the podium”.
Reviewing the best moments of this first half of the season, Quartararo did not hesitate to mention his victory in Portugal . “When you come from tough times and you get the victory in Portugal…that becomes one of the best moments, together with the Sachsenring, because I didn’t expect to win there. At Mugello I also had difficulties, but they were great races.”
Fabio Quartararo was accompanied by Johann Zarco at the press conference, a rider with whom he has shared many podiums in 2022.
“Neither of us started like in 2021. When we arrived in Europe, both he and I have managed to take a step forward and, for me, Zarco is the most regular of Ducati. It would be fantastic to be able to fight a fight like last year. gone through the championship as in the first part of 2021. In fact, I don’t understand why he doesn’t go to the factory team”, ventured the Frenchman.
“I now consider Johann [Zarco] more as a contender for the title, although we cannot say that Pecco [Bagnaia] no longer has options for the championship. Last year he made up a lot of points in a couple of races. But there are still 250 points left in I play to deliver and I know he can go super fast,” he concluded.
