This Friday October 1, 2021, Fabio Quartararo answered questions from journalists from the Circuit of the Americas, at the end of the first day of the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French driver, who still leads the championship with 48 points ahead of Francis Bagnaia.
As usual, we report here the words of Fabio Quartararo without the slightest formatting, even if it is partially translated (vouvoiement in English, tutoiement in French).
fabio quartararo : " It's more or less the kind of circuit where I'm used to training in motocross, but we go a lot faster with MotoGP, so it's very bad! I can't imagine... We said three years ago that the track needed to be resurfaced and it didn't work. I don't know what to say, but it's a joke! »
Marc Márquez and the Ducatis look very strong. How do you see this?
« Finally, Jack (Miller) always goes fast here on this track, but my main opponent is not him and I'm happy that he is there in the middle too. For me, it's good, and I think... We'll see! I know I'm on top with the Yamaha and it works pretty well. We still need a lot of things to improve but I think we are in good shape and I will try to make a difference, even if it is difficult. »
Did you say it was acceptable or unacceptable to race?
« It's acceptable but in my opinion the track is not a MotoGP track. For one lap, it's OK, but 20 laps, in my opinion you will see that there will be... Bad moments. They said the bikes only shook a lot at turn 10, but the bumps are in the worst possible places. Because if you have bumps in turns 1, 11 or 12, it's OK, those are slow corners, but turns 2, 3 and 10, those are the worst corners to have bumps. We will see ! »
Are you going to talk to the safety commission about it?
« Yes of course ! Normally I don't go to the safety commission but when there is something really serious, I go there, and I think that today it is something really serious because it concerns safety: The circuit is not sure! This is really not good and I think everything needs to be resurfaced. »
It's already a physical circuit and there is still this problem of bumps: Do you think that this could induce the effects of compartment syndrome in many drivers?
« No. Today I did 12 laps in a row. OK, I made a few mistakes and expanded, but I felt good physically. Yes, I think it will be the hardest race of the season, and we'll see what happens there, but personally I think it's more of a different kind of contraction here: You work more with the triceps than with the forearms. These don't force too much. »
During testing, you ride more or less alone and you can choose your trajectory. What will happen in the race when you have to go over the bumps?
« I don't really have a clear answer. We will see. There is only one thing I can say: In my opinion, it is dangerous! It's really dangerous! During the race, I think the first two laps will be a mess, so we'll see, but turns 2, 3 and 10 are really dangerous parts of the circuit. It was already difficult parts, but with the moguls it's an extra level. »
How is the circuit in the rain?
« In the rain, we took a step, but the track is a bit random: Every two or three turns, there is a change of tarmac and it is not the same, there are more grip, less grip, so it's hard to adapt. But in the rain, you can see that it's okay, but when you really have to attack, it's rubbish! There are bumps everywhere and there is no safety in these turns! »
Do you think there should be a safety check on the condition of the track before race weekends?
« The runoffs are great and everything is perfect around the track, but we need to resolve this problem of bumps, even if the circuit is magnificent. We'll have to see what happens. Apparently there were people from Dorna who came to see the track, but I don't know what they said. So it would be good to see what they say to the Safety Commission. »
MotoGP Americas Grand Prix FP2 results:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
