For the San Marino Grand Prix, Fabio Quartararo wanted to confirm his recent good race results. Always struggling with the qualifying exercises, the Nice native started from the 13th position on the grid.
A short but complete circuit with sequences of slow and fast turns awaited the MotoGP riders this weekend at the Misano circuit. These characteristics do not suit Yamaha well, as its top speed deficit is a real handicap compared to the Ducati. This fact is evident during the sprint race.
Starting thirteenth, Fabio Quartararo was overtaken by fellow Frenchman Johann Zarco. Behind, the rider from Nice spent a large portion of the race stuck in the exhaust of Raul Fernandez on his Aprilia. “It’s frustrating even though we are far behind compared to the riders in front,” Fabio admitted after the sprint race. “I could ride much faster, but I can’t overtake. We are much slower than Martin, Bezzecchi, and Bagnaia, which is already a very big problem. We can’t overtake the riders who are half a second ahead of us. Honestly, we find a lot of negatives in everything we do. It’s difficult to make steps forward when you’re facing a wall.”
Ultimately, “El Diablo” ended the sprint race in the same position as in the first lap (14th).
Repeat in the Long Race
Sunday followed the same pattern. Unable to overtake his opponents despite having a superior pace, Fabio Quartararo had to settle for 13th place. The same problems as the day before were to blame. Or rather, as Quartararo noted at the end of the race, it was a seasonal issue: “We can’t overtake, and more importantly, as I’ve been saying for a few years, our riding style, compared to others, is totally different, so it’s really, really complicated.”
Now, the Frenchman is eagerly awaiting the test of his 2024 Yamaha, which is scheduled for Monday. By easing off during the race today to have a clear path, the Nice native hopes to make a true comparison. “I am a bit nervous to try this bike. I really hope to have good feedback. Last year I did, but this year we need a big difference. I am both eager and nervous to see if it works or not.”
A decisive moment in the career of the Nice native, who could leave the team if the progress is not significant. Stay tuned…
