On the eve of the first tests of the 2022 preseason, Yamaha presented the weapon with which it will be called to defend the title. The man to beat will be Fabio Quartararo, reigning world champion and reference driver. However, we will not have to wait long to see him on the track, because tomorrow the MotoGP will start the tests that will give us a first idea of the values on the field.
Archived in 2021, the Yamaha rider starts from scratch and aims to confirm himself, without the idea of having to defend the title at all costs, but to fight giving his best. This is why he chose not to use the number one on the hull, keeping his # 20. However, the idea of being the driver to beat doesn’t put too much pressure on him, quite the contrary. It motivates him and pushes him to give his all, half permitting. El Diablo in fact, he asked Iwata for more power on his M1, but deferred any balance to the tests, which will begin shortly.
You don’t see the number one …
“No, there will be no number one, I keep the same number as last year. I don’t want upheavals, I don’t like it. I prefer to do like in football, where the stars accumulate. Last year has passed and we are starting again with a new championship. We are all at zero points ”.
There was pressure on the Yamaha factory on your part as well. How much confidence does it give you to know that there is someone in the factory who knows you very well and understands your needs?
“The request I make, even if you don’t know me, is top speed. It is not about knowing well, there is no problem in the garage, it is like family and there is a good atmosphere. The fact that they know me well doesn’t change things, I don’t need someone who knows me well to know we need speed ”.
Last year we saw the best Fabio so far. Does the title give you extra weight? How can you still grow knowing the competition?
“I don’t think there is any extra weight or pressure for me, because I’ve made my dream come true since I was a child, while many other riders can’t. Indeed, this gives me extra motivation, because I want to win again. I start the year without the idea of defending my title, I just want to win it. Last year passed and this is a new championship, let’s just think about winning ”.
How much of your mindset that you now have comes from the work you did with the psychologist who helped you overcome the pressure?
“I have never struggled with pressure, the last time I went to the psychologist was in 2020. I think it was super important to me, I don’t think it’s extra pressure, but what made me struggle was the fact that I also got angry about the little things, but in terms of pressure I have always been fine. At the moment I don’t have a specific pressure ”.
You asked Yamaha for more power. Did they tell you they found it or you still don’t know anything?
“As for the power, we’ll see tomorrow. They didn’t want to change too much, so we’ll find out tomorrow at what level we are with the power ”.
For the future? Will you talk about the future soon? Are you already in negotiations with Yamaha for the renewal?
“At the moment I am very focused on 2022 and now in particular on testing. There is a person I trust who is in charge of talking about my future, but I think about the present. We will see what happens in the future, but at the moment I am working to give my best in 2022 ”.
When you are on the bike, will you look at Marquez’s times in the tests or will you just focus on yourself? Because he will be a title contender this year. How do you look at it?
“Marquez, Bagnaia … we will have to look at everyone. I haven’t been on a MotoGP in three months, so first of all I’ll have to look at myself. I will only look at the fastest times, but overall, not just Marc. I know he will be a contender for the title, but I will think of myself first and then we will see in Indonesia. It’s hard to say who my opponents will be so soon, but I think they will be Bagnaia, Mir, Marquez, Martin. There are many of them and you cannot know before hitting the track. We’ll see, it will be important to work well ”.
In 2021 you made a big mental step, did you train specifically for this year? How much more confident do you feel about yourself after the title?
“Last year was only my third year in MotoGP, and you learn every time you get on the bike. You don’t just learn to be faster, but more confident and confident, you learn to believe more in yourself. It’s not something you really learn, I need to make mistakes to learn. Last year I made many, but I also learned from them ”.
Will it be more important to win the title this year with Marc Marquez present in all races?
“It’s the same thing, whether Marc is there or not. Last year I won and the feeling was great. We could say the same thing for Valentino Rossi, who is not there this year. For me 2021 or 2022 is the same thing, maybe this year it will be more difficult to win, but with or without Marquez. Clearly he is the reference driver of the last ten years, but for me with or without him, the title will have the same flavor. The goal is to fight for the world championship and that’s it. I’m happy he’s back because the last few times have been very difficult for him, I still have a lot to learn from Marc ”.
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