On this Thursday, June 17, 2021, fabio quartararo answered questions from journalists from the Sachsenring circuit, where the eighth round of the championship will take place this weekend, in Germany.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French driver, still leader of the championship but who was somewhat shaken up during the last race in Catalonia, whether on the track where he was outdone. by Miguel Oliveira on a circuit where he presented himself as the overwhelming favorite, only by the officials who subsequently inflicted two successive penalties on him, ultimately depriving him of a podium.
As usual, we report here the words of fabio quartararo without the slightest formatting.
Fabio, you of course arrive here in Germany as leader of the championship, but you still have to come back, once again, to what happened to you in Catalonia two weeks ago. Everything was going well in the race then there was this problem with your bib, the zipper of your suit, the penalties that followed… Give us a little recap…
"This was a strange ride... in turn 1 I found myself with my suit completely open, and I tried to close it in turn 3 but my bib flew off and I covered the last laps with the open suit… »
" I was only punished three hours later, but to be honest I prefer to laugh about it, because being upset by it would make no sense. This weekend we arrive at a new track, and Alpinestars [the manufacturer of his suit] has already worked on a new system to prevent the problem we encountered in Barcelona from happening again. »
What state of mind are you in when approaching this new Grand Prix? The last time you came here, you didn't cover many laps [Quartararo had qualified in second position on the grid, before falling in the first laps of the race, editor's note], but despite that you would say that this is a circuit that is favorable to you?
" I have the impression that all the circuits suit our bike quite well. Certainly it's a circuit that I'm not particularly fond of, but two years ago I showed a good pace there before falling in the first or second lap. »
« I have the impression that all the circuits suit our bike well »
" I Despite everything, I think our bike works well on all the circuits, and I'm really impatient because when you have a problem in a race, you only want to be at the next round to make up for it! »
Fabio, you are one of the few riders in MotoGP to have already ridden with Fabio di Giannantonio in the past. What is your opinion regarding upon his arrival in MotoGP planned for next year with Gresini ?
"When we look closely at his driving style, we realize that he is very gentle, very precise. I think that in MotoGP it is something very important. He should do well, but he has to do his best this season. »
" I have been in the same situation as him a few years ago, when I signed my contract in the middle of the season, around the Sachsenring, but the most important thing is that he stays focused and tries to do his best on the end of this championship. Then he will be able to enjoy the first tests, and I wish him all the best for his first straight in MotoGP! »
For a decade, the Sachsenring has truly been Marc Márquez's favorite circuit. How important do you think it will be to judge his level this weekend, to see where he is progressing in the rankings?
" According to I'll be there this weekend. If I'm not talking nonsense, he won in the last ten races he raced here, and also won the last ten pole positions he contested there. He will be in the mix, and I think it will be an important moment for him. Then I have to say that I don't really pay attention to what he does. »
" It It is clear that it will be quick, but above all I will refocus on myself. It is certain that it is a great opportunity for him to return to the front: a podium or a victory would give him a big boost in terms of his confidence. But it will be up to us to play to ensure that he does not regain too much confidence! »
« A us to play to ensure that Marc Márquez does not regain too much confidence this weekend! »
It seems that there are several people, including drivers, who are not really in tune with certain decisions emanating from Race Management, whether it concerns exceeding track limits or other things. Can we say that the drivers' confidence in the Race Direction is at its lowest at the moment?
" Without talk too much about what happened in Barcelona, we remember what happened in Mugello between Joan and Miguel [Mir et Olive tree, who both finished on the podium despite having exceeded the limits of the track, to the detriment of Johann zarco, for timing reasons, editor’s note]. For me, these kinds of penalties are very strange, because you can go beyond the track limits by two or three centimeters and lose a position, without gaining any time. »
" For For me, this kind of penalty is a bit too much. Same thing in Barcelona when I went straight and lost seven tenths... I would have had to lose a full second to not be penalized, but I don't see how they can calculate that at all. So for me it's a little too much in the sense that we don't compromise safety, and that makes the race a little too "serious" for my taste. Afterwards, I don't work for them, and I don't make the decisions. »
Jack Miller, to whom the question was also asked, and who was the first beneficiary of the penalties inflicted on Fabio Quartararo in Catalonia, also gives his opinion, before a discussion that remains good-natured spontaneously begins between the two men in the middle of a conference of press.
Miller: « I don't think anyone likes the referee in a football match, right? But it nonetheless remains necessary for the smooth running of the meetings, in the same way as Race Direction is for the Grands Prix. The rule you are talking about, which states that we must lose a second [in the event of a short circuit] »
Quartararo, in mezza-voce: " She is stupid. »
Miller: " She has been in force for three years. Takaaki Nakagami of as for him to observe a long lap... If there had been grass or gravel instead of asphalt in this chicane, what would you have done? »
Quartararo: I cut in the grass... »
Miller: « True, and in this case you would lose more than a second. If there was still grass on the outside, you wouldn't allow yourself to stay at full throttle until the very edge of the corner. In the end if you continue at full speed the wall gets closer. This is what is often discussed during Security Commissions. If you continue to attack and go wider and wider in the curves it makes things less and less safe. »
" It is the same thing with the chicanes: before it was gravel, and no one pulled straight. And then came the asphalt and we started to see drivers going straight three or four times. As a result, these drivers did not damage the sidewall of the tires affected by the turn, and this represents a significant advantage at the end of the race. The rules are the rules. I know no one likes referees, we've all been there, but someone has to be there to take on the wrong role, that's how it is. »
Quartararo: " I would like still add something: we're talking about MotoGP, but when we look at the last laps of Moto3, I think there are more hot spots in terms of safety in this category than in MotoGP.
Miller: " I I agree. »
« Il There are more safety hotspots in Moto3 than in MotoGP »
Quartararo: " Because It's totally stupid to see everyone cutting corners in the last two laps, especially with what's happened in the last few weeks. We are talking about details here. Okay, you have to respect the rule of one second to lose. But for me, they [Race Management] should focus more on the lower categories. »
