Fabio Quartararo’s journey at the Brazilian MotoGP unfolded like a thrilling drama, but the finale left much to be desired. After a promising sixth-place finish in the Sprint Race, hope surged through the Yamaha rider, only to be swiftly dashed on race day as he crossed the line in a disappointing sixteenth place. This result starkly reminded him of the ongoing challenges plaguing his M1 V4, which still bears the hallmarks of a development bike rather than a race-ready machine.
Quartararo candidly acknowledged the difficulties he faced, stating, “The start wasn’t as good as yesterday’s, and with the longer gears, we struggle more in terms of power. However, the most significant issue was with the rear tire.” His frustration was compounded by the last-minute decision to shorten the race, a change announced just moments before the start. “We found out only 5 minutes before the race. It was a last-minute call, but for me, it was clear that I would go with the soft tire. Perhaps others would have chosen the soft as well if they had known the laps had dropped from 31 to 23,” he reflected. He emphasized that notifying the teams ten minutes ahead of time would have been more appropriate.
Despite the setbacks, Quartararo dismissed any claims of encountering problems with the track surface during the race. “Before the GP, I felt something wasn’t right, but nothing was clear. As for me, everything went well,” he remarked. Looking back at the weekend, he offered a balanced view, describing it as “a positive weekend.” He expressed hope that next year would see improvements regarding track issues and a more professional adherence to the event schedule. “I enjoyed the event, as well as the location and the track, which I find fun,” Quartararo added, hinting at his optimistic outlook.
As the paddock shifts its focus to the upcoming round in Texas, the Frenchman shared his thoughts on the challenge ahead. “I expected worse from this event, so I’m unsure what will happen at COTA.” With the Texas race looming, all eyes will be on Quartararo to see if he can turn his fortunes around and harness the speed that eluded him in Brazil.
