Like most stakeholders in the MotoGP category, Fabio Quartararo continues to respond to various requests through video conferences. After Yamaha Motor France, WithU et AMV, this time it is to Paolo Scalera and Matteo Aglio, our colleagues from the Italian site GPone that the young French pilot gave a short hour of his time, in the virtual company of his agent Éric Mahé.
So, obviously, some of his thoughts are already known to aficionados, such as the fact that it would not be three consecutive races that could scare him: the young Frenchman is motivated, physically trained, and completely ready to start this atypical 2020 season!
However, he provides some interesting details on the current situation in Andorra, where he lives and cannot yet train with an off-road motorcycle, unlike what is already happening in France and Italy: " Not yet ! Currently I only do physical training and I can't use a motorcycle yet. I think that will be the case next week. »
Paolo Scalera then begins the main part of the video by posing Fabio Quartararo questions sent by Internet users.
On the subject of the Yamaha M1 2020 Factory, the Petronas rider reissues what he has already stated : “We only had five days to drive the 1 M2020, and we couldn't feel a big difference. Of course, Yamaha's main goal was to improve top speed and they seem to have succeeded judging by the performance of Maverick and Valentino. We used a new motorcycle, but with quite a few kilometers on the engine. This was the deal with Yamaha and I need to do more miles to tell exactly what the difference is between the two bikes. But overall the bike suits me really well and I really enjoyed it during the tests in Sepang and Qatar. »
The young Nice native, however, tackles the legend of an easy-to-ride Yamaha M1…
“No, I don’t think any motorcycle is really easy to ride. It depends on everyone's driving style, but we have seen that many of its riders have been able to make podiums, even with the satellite Yamaha. I think that depending on your driving style, it may be easier for you. An aggressive rider would be much slower on the Yamaha than on the Honda. It's a bike that adapts pretty well to my riding style, but the Yamaha is not an easy bike. »
Despite being barely 21 years old, his promotion to the official team scheduled for 2021 does not put any pressure on him…
" I stay calm. Ultimately, it's the best thing that could happen to me for the next two years. I have no apprehensions and it's only positive for me. »
Question already addressed elsewhere, Will Fabio Quartararo bring his entire technical team, with whom he gets along very well, with him to Yamaha Factory?
“It's something we still need to discuss, but I obviously have a very good feeling with my team, and I hope I can bring it with me next season. It's still a little early to be able to talk about it, but yes, it's something we need to talk about for the future. »
When a user asks if Fabio was close to Ducati before signing with Yamaha Factory, the question is also addressed to Eric Mahe who answers : “surely, the basic strategy was to wait. Wait, because Fabio's value is increasing. We would have been stupid to make a deal last September. So we wanted to wait, but this prototype arrived in Valencia. So I pushed not only for 2021 and 2022, but also to have this machine in 2020. So the strategy initially was to wait, and then we suddenly realized that we needed this machine to go for victory in 2020. We therefore reached a compromise with Yamaha to have this machine this year, then a factory contract in 2021 and 2022. We were therefore patient and then suddenly the rush arrived: it was two months of difficult work but we finally succeeded to get this machine. We are very happy because the strategy was also not to change the manufacturer brand. The strategy was to wait until the right moment to decide. But you can't wait until February to make a deal for a machine because, as Fabio told you, he received an already used engine but that was normal because it was planned late. »
“So if we hadn't moved in October, we wouldn't have had a factory bike in 2020. So the strategy evolved suddenly but we are very happy with what resulted with Yamaha. »
“But we spoke with Ducati, of course, as we spoke with others, but nothing concrete. »
“I would like to add that in my opinion, this constitutes a sort of natural progression: a satellite bike and a satellite team for the first season, then a factory bike in a satellite team with the same team, then two years of contract. factory also with the same team. I like this kind of progression because sometimes, psychologically speaking, it's not so easy for the pilot. But this progression is linear and we are very happy with that. »
Italy obliges, the subject of her relationship with Valentino Rossi inevitably comes up...
“My relationship with Vale is really good but it's always strange to talk to him because I'm talking to my idol, and in the end he's the one driver that I'm always a little nervous with when I talk to him. But my relationship is very good with him and it's a pleasure to see him on the track. I will always remember that the first thing I did on the first run in Qatar was do three or four laps with him. It's something that will always stay in my memory. »
The Frenchman also specifies that he still finds it a little strange to be able to consult the data of his Italian idol.
Another interesting element, “El Diablo” reveals the origin of his nickname...
“The nickname appeared during my first years as a driver in the Spanish championship, when I wore a replica of Roberto Locatelli's helmet with a devil on the back. That's why one of my first opponents started calling me that, and the nickname has stuck with me until now. »
His number 20 is linked to his date of birth.
When Paolo Scalera asks Eric Mahé if he feels pressure in managing the different areas of Fabio Quartararo's career, the answer is clear: " Nothing ! Zero ! Because we know each other, I trust him, he trusts me, and we are in a good state of mind to achieve our goal. So it's more of a dream than a pressure. So I'm really happy and I'm not stressed. I only strengthen my energy but I don't feel pressure. Zero. »
The two Italian journalists then questioned Eric Mahe on the strengths and weaknesses of Fabio Quartararo...
“If we talk about riding style, I have never seen anyone with this precision, millimeter by millimeter. This is something very impressive. I think he really has the talent to be precise because when you watch his driving, it's millimeter by millimeter. In my opinion, this is his best quality about his driving style. »
“Then the second thing is he always knows where he is. I mean it doesn't drop much. This means that he feels the limit. He feels the limit very well and he can keep 0,5% every time at every location. He therefore does not fall, while having a good rhythm. »
“Psychologically, he is a very stable boy and very easy to get along with: he is happy all the time, he smiles all the time, and for a driver the fact of not being under pressure is really a quality. Even if we don't have a perfect weekend, OK, there's a little stress, and then we're joking 10 minutes later. This is really good because our season is 20 races, and if we take our frustration with us to the next race, that's not the right way to go. »
" The weak spots ? No, zero! (laughs). I haven't seen any weak points and I hope I don't see any. »
Fabio Quartararo is then asked about his favorite circuits and those he likes least…
" My favorite ? I like almost all of them. If I only think about a single lap, Mugello is in my opinion the most beautiful of all because it is a circuit that I really like. Afterwards, there is Jerez, Misano…”
“In the end, a circuit where you get good results is a circuit you like. All the circuits suit me well, but it's true that if we didn't go to Sachsenring and Aragón, it would be better for me (laughs), because it's true that Marc Márquez is really very strong on his two circuits. »
What is the secret to beating Marc Márquez?
“If I knew the secret, I would have won races last year! For me, there is no secret but you have to work hard and gain experience. Last year he was in his 7th season of MotoGP. It was my first time and I almost won in Thailand and Misano. I think that with my experience from last year, it will not be easier but a little less difficult. Afterwards, I don't think there is any secret and you have to work hard. When we have really taken a step forward, a good qualification, that moment will arrive. »
Does the Frenchman prefer a head race or a hand-to-hand fight?
“The most important thing is victory, but it is true that a race like the one in Misano is really difficult in terms of concentration. I had Marc (Márquez) behind me throughout the race and the fact that I could have won it after making just one overtake, I like that, because I didn't make a single mistake during the entire race. But we'll see if we can have a really competitive race, which we haven't really done so far. »
Fabio Quartararo then pays tribute to Andrea Dovizioso : “For me, Andrea is a strange subject because I don't see him as a rival whereas in recent years, he is the one who finished second, second, and second behind Marc. It is perhaps because he is extremely discreet that people do not perceive him as a top driver, even though he goes very fast. In my eyes he has a really impressive riding style, and during testing only two drivers impressed me: Marc and Dovi. Dovi because when we did the first laps following him, it looked like he was going 10 seconds slower than he needed to, even though he was going very, very fast. For me, he's a driver who goes really fast. »
Finally, we note that Fabio Quartararo would really like to do a test with a Formula 1…
“I didn’t tell you but I will take Vettel’s place next year (laughs). No, seriously, it's too early to think about the future of my MotoGP career when I haven't started it yet. What I would really like would be to be able to do a test with a Formula 1 car. It's a dream. What really impresses me are the corner speeds of the Formula 1 cars. It's something I really enjoy doing in MotoGP. I hope to be able to try a Formula 1 car to be able to feel how it feels in the curves, with the speed. »
Will Petronas heed the call?
