MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo explains to us how he goes fast on his Yamaha

We can consider Fabio Quartararo's rise in MotoGP to be meteoric. At least, “El Diablo” as he is nicknamed has emerged from his box to shake up the scale of values ​​and tomorrow the transfer market. But when it comes to his results on the track, nothing is down to spontaneity. On the contrary, it is the result of a deliberate increase in power whereas in the Grands Prix, it is the reward of methodical work. The Frenchman explains it all to us…

fabio quartararo He is just starting his 20s, but listening to him in the management of his season, his bike, and his relationships with his team, he already has the makings of an old hand. But even if the results speak for him, the Petronas Yamaha rider remains modest: “ I still have a lot to learn about this bike. For example, when I look at the data from Valentino and Maverick, I see their experience in gas control. I still have to learn these things from them ».

A beautiful humility when we know that Valentino Rossi he himself has already admitted also looking at Fabio’s data… “ I was very fast at Mugello, he studied my data. For me, it's quite strange... No, it's even very strange, because I had waited for him ten years ago before hospitality to take a photo with him. And now he's watching how I do my lap time! ».

A lap time that is not easy to achieve. He explains in fact: “ on a MotoGP you have to think more than on a Moto2. In Moto2, you establish a good setup, then you accelerate hard throughout the race to try to manage the tires. In MotoGP you have to check the tires, then know if the tank is full or almost empty, and think about the three maps for power delivery and engine braking. You really have to be very careful when you're on the bike, and I think that helps me stay calm when I'm in the pits. ».

« You need to focus on driving, but once you need to switch to another map, you need to do it. I change it two or three times during the race. And it depends on the circuit. If you're on a track with very little grip, you work a lot more with power mapping. It also depends on the rear tire you have selected for the race. I would say I switch the power map once or twice, same goes for engine braking ».

High aerobatics in the middle of battle and at more than 300 km/h… And then there is also the front tire… “ I think I have a good feeling with the bike. When the front axle slips, I release the brake a little. It's difficult to manage because you lose the front in less than a tenth of a second. So you have to be very focused on what you are doing and have good control of the bike. If you don't have that feeling with the front, it's easy to fall because it can go very fast ».

To get there, it was necessary to do in-depth work during a winter break very well managed by its environment: “ I think we did that very well with the team. During the test in Valencia, they told me: “let's start in stages”. I didn't want to go fast, the only goal was to be ready for the first race in Qatar. We had already carried out tests in Valencia, Jerez, Sepang and Losail. A total of ten days. During these ten days, the plan was to accelerate, step by step ».

« At Sepang it was difficult for me to see that Bagnaia was a second faster than me. But it was good. I thought if he could do it, I could too, but taking it one step at a time is the best strategy. It's always so difficult for beginners, no pilot wants to wait! You must have good self-control » ends the tricolor on Speedweek.