French GP, Exclusive interview with Claude Michy: “No one would have put a cent on Fabio at the start of the season, even if he has a lot of talent”

On the occasion of an incredible Spanish Grand Prix, between Friday and Monday's tests Fabio Quartararo increased the absolute circuit record from 1'37.653 to 1'36.379, or 1.274 gained, which is all simply extremely rare.

Last year, Johann Zarco honored the spectators at Le Mans with a superb pole position, ahead of Marc Marquez and the greats. Last Saturday at the Angel Nieto Circuit, “El Diablo” won during qualifying and started from pole position. This was only his fourth Grand Prix in MotoGP, and he only has the least advanced of the four Yamahas entered in the World Championship.

Claude, after Johann Zarco's feat in 2018, Fabio Quartararo dazzled with his talent during the Spanish GP, and even the tests the following Monday. For the organizer of the French GP, is this a dream promotion?

“No, we are very well organized (laugh) ! ".

Effectively…

“This kind of thing is always positive. It gives light to motorcycle sport and to the pilots. As a result, for us it’s positive, it’s obvious.”

Since the start of this year, the leader of the MotoGP World Championship has changed at each Grand Prix. There are now 3 points between the top three (Marquez 70 points, Rins 69, Dovizioso 67) and Rossi not far behind with 61. Four different manufacturers occupy the first four places. Are we experiencing, in terms of spectacle, a golden age of MotoGP?

“No because I think that every year, for some time now, the motorcycle show at the Grands Prix has been at the top. Plus with four manufacturers in the fight, it's even better. Everything is possible, and we can clearly see the benefit of it.”

“No one would have put a cent on Fabio at the start of the season, even if he has a lot of talent. He managed to surprise at this level. Kidneys showed the United States that, against Valentino, he was better than him. So it can only motivate Valentino also to be even more ahead.”

“And everyone can make mistakes, Marc Márquez Understood. So the scenario is nice.”

Fabio Quartararo is in high demand by the international press who discover him. With the addition of the national press at Le Mans, don't you think that the requests risk being a little intrusive? Is your role as an organizer, in some way, to help protect him a little?

“I think the team he is part of (Petronas Yamaha SIC) is structured, with a press service which manages its planning. We spoke with him about it, and in fact it's much more comfortable for him in MotoGP than in Moto2. Because in Moto2 people could come to see it at any time for any reason, whereas in MotoGP, it's set: it's from such and such a time to such and such a place.”

“It has changed dimension, but it is more structured. So it’s also for him, I think, more relaxed.”

Coming second in the World Championship behind Marc Marquez last year with 58 points, Johann Zarco was in pole position at the French GP. This year he arrives in Sarthe 18th with 7 points. Aren't you afraid that his Le Mans weekend will be quite difficult to live with?

“I don’t think so, no. He is aware that there is a lot of work to do. He must adapt to the machine and make it evolve with his team. Yamaha has been there for decades, but KTM this is only their third year. So if there were miracles, it would be known.”

“Currently KTM is working, which is also the case for Johann who is adapting. He changed teams. A lot of things have changed in his environment, so we have to give him a little time.”

“His talent and his character have not deteriorated, simply the technical elements do not currently allow very rapid progression.”

The French Grand Prix achieved the best global attendance of the 2018 season in terms of the number of spectators present on Sunday. With 105 spectators on May 203, 20 on the Bugatti circuit, the French Grand Prix was ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix (2018) and the Malaysian Grand Prix (105). With the Fabio Quartararo phenomenon, do you think you will improve this success?

" We will see. We will know the result later. You know, the passage to the top is always fleeting. It's like mountain climbers: one moment, you come back down! ".

Generally yes (collective laughter)!