Quartararo has won four of the first nine races of the 2021 season and leads the MotoGP standings by 34 points from second-placed Johann Zarco before the summer break.
The Frenchman has already improved his numbers from last season, with one win and two more podium finishes than then after being third in France and Germany.
After a very bumpy 2020 on an M1 that Quartararo admitted he never felt comfortable with, Yamaha improved the bike over the winter, particularly at the front.
However, El Diablo says that he has had to modify his driving style in a way that is now “unnatural” for him.
“I think every rider has to adapt to his bike,” said Quartararo in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com. “I drive differently than last year, it’s not really natural but it works well. I can feel the limit, I feel I can go very fast and at the moment I think it’s going very well.”
“In 2019 it was the same and at the moment I’m super focused and focused on the bike. So it’s going pretty well.”
“Normally I’m more of a super fast driver in the corners and right now I’m trying to be a bit more like an animal, braking super late, trying to drive a little bit differently,” he explained when asked to explain how his piloting style is not natural.
“In corners where I can go faster, like in Germany, I only think that if I go faster the bike doesn’t turn, so I have to think more about the start and this.”
“In some circuits it happens, so it’s not totally natural but you have to adapt. If you’re slower in one corner, in another you’ll be faster. It’s not natural or easy, but when you understand it the bike goes fast and you drive easily. and faster”.
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Analyzing the first half of the season, Quartararo believes that the Yamaha has been “quick in all circumstances”, despite the problem with compartment syndrome that deprived him of victory in Jerez and the mishap with the suit in Barcelona.
“Yes, it’s been a great season,” he said. “Unfortunately we had problems in Jerez and Barcelona because of the arm, the suit. But we have been fast in all circumstances, even when we had problems in Germany or in Le Mans in the wet we have been able to fight for the podium. I am very happy with the start of the season”.
All the podiums and winners of the 2021 MotoGP season
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Yamaha MotoGP
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Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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Photo by: Dorna
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: MotoGP
Photo by: MotoGP
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Dorna
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
