The circuits change, but the situation always seems to be the same. Fabio Quartararo again appeared as the first rival of the Ducatis on Friday at Misano, where the first two free practice sessions took place. On the first day of the San Marino Grand Prix, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer again proved to be unbeatable, placing four bikes at the top.
“At the moment it is like this everywhere. We saw it at the Red Bull Ring, the situation was similar, today the first four bikes are Ducati. I’m always at the top and that’s what makes the big difference ”, Fabio Quartararo observed, who notes how much intensity is growing with the passing of the weekends:“ Everyone wants to be in front, everyone wants to be first. It would almost seem like there are only three races left on the calendar, it’s impressive ”.
Aprilia proved no less, because the two RS-GPs proved their worth this Friday, before remaining more late in the time attack. This could indicate that Aleix Espargaro is getting closer after a difficult weekend in Austria. But this day has above all brought to light a new element that promises to be fundamental for the fight between the three contenders for the title: Pecco Bagnaia ran into a penalty.
The three positions that the Ducati rider has been deprived of on the grid make Quartararo rather smile, who had to serve a Long Lap Penalty and comments on the “slightly lighter” penalty for his rival: “If it had happened to me, I they would have given three years in prison! ”. El Diablo jokes about it, but this sanction can represent a good opportunity on a track that, on paper, is very favorable to the Ducati rider.
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“It doesn’t matter to me, I have to focus on myself, but we also have to take advantage of this penalty and try to see what can be done from the start of the race,” says Quartararo. “You definitely have to take advantage of it, because in the end you have to benefit from everything. It is certainly a shame for him, but it is a good thing for us, so we will have to take advantage of it and try to do our best ”.
“But this will affect the strategy when we know which position I will start from on the grid. At the moment nothing changes ”, assures the Frenchman, who evaluates in the same way the role that the weather could play, announced not good for the rest of the weekend. “Honestly, I don’t care. In all circumstances I will give my best and take many risks. It matters little. Last year I was 15th in FP3 in the rain, but at eight tenths, this year we made a huge step forward in these conditions, so I can’t wait to see what it will be like if it rains ”.
Focused on his performance without letting himself be influenced by external elements, Fabio Quartararo tested the tires at his disposal. Despite a long-run on a soft-medium pair, he discarded the soft at the front after only a few kilometers: “From my second lap with the soft tire, I told myself that it didn’t make sense to continue using it. I had to do a long-run of 10 or 12 laps and I did it, but I made a lot of mistakes in turns 1, 11, 12 …, it’s not a problem of grip, but of tire stiffness. The tire was too soft for my riding style ”.
“So we decided to mount the front middle and it went well,” continued Quartararo, who took the lead in FP1. He then finished fifth in the second session, this time on the hard tire. “It’s a shame for my time attack, our tire wasn’t ready and I couldn’t make a big improvement, unfortunately”. But it will take much more to discourage him: “The time attack went badly, but the pace is really good. I know I’m fast, today I was fast on the pace, not on the time attack, but we know why ”.
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