Fabio Quartararo’s dissatisfaction was already evident during the winter, but it is turning into frustration at the end of the first qualifying of the season. One year later, the Lusail circuit has gone from dream to nightmare: if in 2021 he had triumphed for the first time on the official M1, today he closes the Saturday of qualifying with a dark face, embittered by the result that does not allow him to this moment to defend the title as he would like.
On a track where engine power is a key factor, the M1 struggles and he is the first of the Yamaha riders, but he is only tenth. Forced to go through Q1, the reigning world champion started 2022 uphill, aware that he does not have, at least this weekend, the weapons to fight with rivals, who appear to be fierce and decidedly faster and in shape: “I I feel good on the bike. As for me, I give my 100% every time I go to the track and I will do it until the end of the season, but that’s tough. The only strategy I have is to push hard, in all conditions. This is the only way for me to try to be ahead “.
On paper, the Lusail track has never been particularly favorable to Yamaha, however it is the team that has won the most in recent years, placing a double last year in the two races held (Vinales won the first race and Quartararo the second. ). One year later, however, the situation seems to be reversed: “On this track I think we have to do the first perfect lap. Last year I was left behind for most of the race, but then I was able to overtake. But things change, the bikes improve, so we’ll see. Tomorrow we will try something on the bike because the feeling is not too bad on the pace, I will push to the maximum but I will also have to manage the tires well. It won’t be an easy task ”.
In Qatar, therefore, the sensations of the tests were confirmed, which had made Quartararo so frustrated as to make him claim to have an open future. The reigning world champion has been in pain all weekend in Lusail and does not expect an easy race: “In terms of feeling, we have no rear grip and we struggle a lot. We have no room to put more power into acceleration. The bike moves a lot, but this happens because I go to the limit and in a condition like this, there comes a time when the bike is no longer stable. For me the main difference is that the rear grip is missing and for us it is a weak point. I would say that this is the main problem ”.
However, once the problem has been identified, Quartararo can only race trying to compensate for the shortcomings of a bike that is not as he would like: “I’m just a rider on the bike, I expected better in Qatar. But as always, I’m fast on the pace. Looking at the practice and qualifying, I’m not angry because I know I’ve done my best. To be honest I don’t know what to say “.
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