The Frenchman managed to become almost infallible on a dry lap, with six pole positions in his debut year in MotoGP, four in his second year and five in a row in 2021, between the second and seventh races, in Barcelona. Since then, more than a year ago, Fabio Quartararo has only achieved one pole, in Indonesia, back in March.
“I’m starting to have a lot less fun in the qualifying sessions,” Quartararo admitted this Saturday in Misano, where he could only be eighth and will start behind Pecco Bagnaia on the grid, even despite the three-place penalty for the Italian, who was second. and will be fifth.
“It’s the most I could do, but I’m disappointed,” added the Frenchman.
Q2 started with a bit of rain and the track slightly wet, the drivers came out with wet tires, but they had to go in immediately to put on the dry ones.
“In these conditions, in some corners I couldn’t get on the curb, like turn 6. So I couldn’t carry the speed like we have to do with the Yamaha and we didn’t have any acceleration. So basically turn 6 at 7 they weren’t very good, turn 15 I had to use less speed because we couldn’t really take advantage of the curbs,” he lamented.
“So I’m disappointed, but it’s always the same problem. I’m starting to have a lot less fun than before, we have to find a solution to qualify faster,” he asked Yamaha.
Starting from so far back, Quartararo will have to do a perfect first lap, since once launched in a caravan for the Yamaha, overtaking is an ordeal.
“That’s the problem, where can I overtake?”, referring to all the Ducatis he will have in front of him.
“It’s a track where there’s a lot of acceleration and braking. If I get too close I can’t overtake, you can try, like in Austria, but the risk I take is much higher.”
The solution for Fabio is to risk it at the start.
“I will have to make a great start, a great first lap and play a lot in the first four corners.”
In addition to starting so far behind, Fabio was unable to take advantage of the three-place penalty against Bagnaia, whom he sees as his direct rival for the title.
“In the end he made an incredible qualifying, it’s disappointing that we’re always fighting with the same guys,” he said of the Ducati.
“They are fast, I think their bike is the reference right now. But of course it is difficult because I give my 100%, I did my best, but I could only be eighth.”
“It’s only three tenths [off pole] but it’s P8. So it’s really disappointing, but in normal conditions I know my pace is good.”
