Quartararo: "In these conditions, the podium for me is a victory"

The Frenchman arrived at Le Mans , his home race, after losing a race in Jerez that he led for many laps as a result of compartment syndrome, for which he had to undergo surgery last week.

Despite this, and despite the fact that he was not comfortable in wet and mixed conditions throughout the weekend, El Diablo was able to overcome adversity and achieve a third place that allowed him to regain the leadership of the World Championship.

“It was a race with a lot of head. When it started to rain and we were still on the slicks I saw that Maverick [Viñales] and Jack [Miller] were more careful and I thought it was time to push a little harder and get away, but Jack followed me and we had a good fight. It was raining a lot at the back of the circuit and braking straight into turn 9 I almost lost the bike in front and then the bike behind. I had to calm down and go very carefully to the garage to change the bike, and Marc , Maverick and Rins they have recovered us a lot”, Fabio recounted the critical moments prior to the change of motorcycle.

“It was my flag- to-flag race and I got a bit out of control going into the pit lane. I saw a blue 23 on the ground and almost got into Bastianini ‘s box, luckily I didn’t turn, but I was under pressure. We have had our first experience in this type of race”, explained the Frenchman, who stopped the bike on the side of the Viñales box and had to run a few meters to catch up with his.

The choice of the front soft tire prevented him from defending against Zarco .

“Zarco and Miller had the midfield forward and we had the soft one. These conditions were the worst for us and in the warm up I tried this tire and we improved a bit. Doing a podium at home in these conditions makes this result like a victory for me”, he assured.

A podium that returns him to the leadership of the World Cup.

“It is incredible that he has regained the lead. Every time I look at it I think of the Jerez race, but more than that, the important thing is to have reached the podium in these conditions and after how the weekend had gone for us”, he reiterated.

Now, Fabio leads with a point over Pecco Bagnaia , who could only be fourth today

“Bagnaia has been very fast all weekend and we managed to finish ahead of him. Now we are going to Mugello and Barcelona , we have to be very strong mentally because they are tracks for Ducati, but we will get to Assen , which is very good for us, also to Germany. We have to wait for our circuits to arrive and go little by little, and take advantage of where we can because Barcelona has always been good to me”, he valued.

The rainy conditions, less demanding with the driving, allowed Fabio not to remember his operated arm.

“The arm went well, it was the physically easiest race of my life, so it didn’t hurt and I didn’t force anything. I am very happy with the response after the operation”, settled the boy from the Côte d’Azur .

The photos of Fabio Quartararo at the 2021 MotoGP French Grand Prix

Podium: Race winner Jack Miller, Ducati and third place Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

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Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Podium: Race Winner Jack Miller, Ducati, Second Place Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing, Third Place Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

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Podium: Race Winner Jack Miller, Ducati, Second Place Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing, Third Place Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

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Podium: Race Winner Jack Miller, Ducati, Second Place Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing, Third Place Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

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Podium: third place Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

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Second place French riders Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing and third place Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing pose with the French flag

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Third place Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

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Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing, Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

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Third place Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

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Raul Fernandez, Red Bull KTM Garlic, Fabio Quartararo

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Pole winner Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing and third place Jack Miller, Ducati Team

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Pole Winner Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing, Second Place Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing

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Polesitter Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing, Second Place Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing, and Third Place Jack Miller, Ducati Team

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