Fabio Quartararo

The French racer is indeed in a better position compared to the 2023 season, as the top speed of the 2024 M1 has increased. However, the new Yamaha motorbike is still behind Ducati, KTM and Aprilia motorbikes, in the time attack which is crucial for qualifying. Meanwhile, in the race pace, Quartararo can still set a solid rhythm.

This condition makes it very difficult for Quartararo to compete for the podium, because the test results in Sepang and Lusail are not enough to be in the front row starting position. In fact, in modern MotoGP, qualifying is very crucial to reach the podium, because there are minimum tire pressure regulations, and motorbike performance is very balanced at the top.

These conditions made it very difficult for Quartararo in the 2023 season, where he never won. His best achievement last season was finishing in third place in the main races in America, India and Indonesia. Yamaha’s flagship racer found it difficult to reach the podium because he often started from outside the top 10 positions. In fact, he was unable to qualify from the first qualifying (Q1) 10 times, namely at Jerez, Le Mans, Mugello, Silverstone, Catalunya, Misano, Motegi, Phillip Island, Lusail and Ricardo Tormo.

Also read: “Time Attack” is still a problem for Quartararo

AFP/KARIM JAAFAR

Monster Energy Yamaha team racer, Fabio Quartararo, drives his motorbike on the first day of the MotoGP pre-season test at the Lusail Circuit, Doha, Qatar, Monday (19/2/2024).

In fact, last season he only started from the second row twice, namely when he finished fourth, in races in Assen and Mandalika. He finished third in the main race at Mandalika, the last podium he achieved last season.

Meanwhile, Quartararo’s last victory was achieved in the German series race at the Sachsenring Circuit in the 2022 season. So, Quartararo has been without a win for 30 series of races.

This winning drought is still difficult to end in the 2024 season, although it is not impossible. This condition is due to the increase in performance of the YZR-M1 which has not been able to close the gap with the top factory teams, especially Ducati. The M1 does have a better top speed, but that takes away from the M1’s other advantage, namely cornering agility. Apart from that, the wear rate of the rear tires is still very high, and the tires often experience spin when accelerating hard when exiting a corner. This condition made Quartararo and his teammate, Alex Rins, lose quite a lot of time, especially in the time attack for qualifying.

The weaknesses that are still inherent in the M1 after the last pre-season test in Lusail, 19-20 February, make it very difficult for Quartararo to compete in the opening race of the season in Lusail, this weekend, 8-10 March. He will also focus more on continuing to develop the M1, with the hope that the M1’s performance will be much more solid in the first few MotoGP series. If the M1 is not competitive, Quartararo will almost certainly leave Yamaha at the end of this season. His and Yamaha’s contract ends on December 31, 2024.

Also read: Quartararo and Rins immediately have “chemistry”

AFP/KARIM JAAFAR

Monster Energy Yamaha team racer, Fabio Quartararo, drives his motorbike on the first day of the MotoGP pre-season test at the Lusail Circuit, Doha, Qatar, Monday (19/2/2024).

“We didn’t make much progress, but the track conditions were better today. I was riding behind an opponent, and I also got some really good information for us from that. We have room for improvement, but we need to find more traction big and reduces tire degradation,” said Quartararo after the pre-season test in Qatar.

“We improved, but the others also improved. We have to see in the first race, but hopefully we are in a better position than last year,” continued Quartararo on the official Monster Energy Yamaha team website.

Last season, Quartararo could only start from 14th position in the race in Qatar, and finished seventh in the main race, and eighth in the sprint. The podium in Lusail was dominated by Ducati riders.

This season, based on the results of the pre-season test in Qatar, Quartararo’s best time is still in 14th position with 1 minute 51.965 seconds. He is 1.013 seconds adrift of Ducati racer Francesco Bagnaia who set the fastest lap record of 1 minute 50.952 seconds. Qualification competition will also be very tight, because the top 10 riders are within the range of 0.726 seconds, where there are six Ducati riders, three Aprilia riders and one KTM rider.

Also read: Quartararo: My main target is always to be world champion

YAMAHA MOTOR RACING SRL DOCUMENTATION

Monster Energy Yamaha team racer Fabio Quartararo drives the YZR-M1 motorbike on the first day of the second pre-season test for MotoGP 2024 at the Lusail Circuit, Qatar, Monday (19/2). Quartararo is still looking for the key to reduce the aggressiveness of the M1, so that he can be faster in the time attack which is crucial for qualifying.

“In my opinion, we need more time and more tests to see the full potential of our bike. However, I am very confident about this project. I feel Yamaha is doing the best. I don’t think too much about the future, I’m focused on improving our bike ,” explained Quartararo.

The 24-year-old racer remains professional by giving his best to develop the M1, but also preparing a backup plan if it doesn’t work out. He revealed in the pre-season test in Sepang that he currently has an initial contract with another factory team.

“I already have an initial contract with another brand, but Yamaha will definitely know about that. Now, it’s up to Yamaha to see what steps they make. I’m quite happy with what they’re doing, but it’s a question of seeing how things go.” things are developed in the short term,” stressed Quartararo.

The situation faced by Yamaha is indeed complicated, because they are using this season as proof of their capacity. If M1 is competitive, then there are two things that can be achieved at once, namely retaining Quartararo and embracing independent teams as satellite teams. Currently, the VR46 Racing team is the strongest candidate as a Yamaha satellite team. However, this will be difficult to achieve if the M1 cannot get close to the Desmosedici GP which is currently used by Valentino Rossi’s team.

Also read: Yamaha’s breakthrough to appear competitive again in MotoGP

We rise, but so do others.

MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA DOCUMENTATION

Monster Energy Yamaha Team Director Massimo Meregalli with two MotoGP racers, Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, at the launch of the 2024 livery in Sepang, Malaysia, Monday (5/2/2024).

Monster Energy Yamaha Team Director Massimo Meregalli also admitted that currently the improvements made to the M1 are not enough to compete at the top. Yamaha still has to continue to develop, taking advantage of the concession rights it has this season.

“We still have work to do. The distance to our competitors is still important, and I expected it to get even closer. I didn’t expect this, because in Sepang we improved our best lap by 0.5 seconds and here even more. But, like me say, it’s not enough, so we need to keep working,” stressed Meregalli.

“Our pace is not bad, not in the top three, but not bad. However, time attack is still the main area for our development because a good starting position is a big advantage,” concluded Meregalli.

Also read: Bagnaia-Ducati harmony continues until 2026

YAMAHA MOTOR RACING SRL DOCUMENTATION

Monster Energy Yamaha team racer Fabio Quartararo drives the YZR-M1 motorbike on the first day of the second pre-season test for MotoGP 2024 at the Lusail Circuit, Qatar, Monday (19/2). Quartararo is still looking for the key to reduce the aggressiveness of the M1, so that he can be faster in the time attack which is crucial for qualifying.

Fabio Quartararo’s starting position in MotoGP 2023

1. Portugal 11

2. Argentina 10

3. America 7

4. Spanish 16

5. French 13

6. Italia 15

7. Germany 12

8. Netherlands 4

9. England 22

10. Austria 9

11. Catalonia 17

12. San Marino 13

13. India 8

14. Japan 14

15. Indonesia 4

16. Australia 17

17. Thailand 10

18, Malaysia 8

19. Qatar 14

20. Valencia 15

2024-03-06 06:28:24
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