This Friday March 18, 2022, Fabio Quartararo answered questions from journalists from the Mandalika Circuit on the island of Lombok, at the end of the first day of the 2022 Indonesian Grand Prix.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French pilot who is approaching his Indonesian weekend with an auspicious rebound.
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).
It was a good day for you, but what was the problem at the start of FP2, how can we explain this change between FP1 and FP2?
Fabio Quartararo : " Overall this morning I didn't really feel very good with the wet settings. At the end I tried the hard front tire and found it was a bit of a disaster because I didn't have a very good feeling. This afternoon we started with the test bike and we had a second, slightly different bike to try. I didn't really have time to try the test bike and we went straight with the new settings, and we had to finish with this bike because we experienced an electronic problem. But the feeling was good and I think we still have a little potential to improve. »
You seem a little more optimistic than during the test. Does the progression come from new parts or from the work done in the box?
« No, during the last test we drove 6 tenths faster than that! So I expected to be fast because to be honest I finished second 14 thousandths behind Pol during the test, my pace was very fast and I felt the bike had great potential. But we had three days of testing, the tires changed, the tarmac changed, and to be honest I expected to finish in the top five today. Of course P1 is much better, but I expected to be there. »
You say you expected to be in the top five but this is much better. For what ? Do you feel more comfortable?
« No, I have the same feeling as during the test, and, to be honest, during the test you ride for three days and you leave a lot of MotoGP rubber. Today was the first day and it felt a lot like the first day. We have to adapt a little bit but I feel very good and I think we have to turn a corner in sector one, which is the sector where I am very bad. I have to take a step forward in my driving here, but my feeling was very good and I think it's generally what I expected today. As I said, maybe not finish P1, but be there 1, 2 or 3/10 from P1. »
In Qatar, you said it would be difficult to make a podium or fight for victory. Here, do you think the situation is different?
« We only did one session in good conditions: I don't know what resistance the tire will have, I don't know which tire to use. Maybe if you ask me the same question tomorrow I can answer more clearly, but currently I think our pace is very fast and we are very consistent. So I guess we have good potential for the race, but I prefer to stay calm and work well tomorrow. »
How were the track conditions, including the new surface?
« To be honest, the new part wasn't bad but it was strange. For me, some parts of the track have a lot of grip while others don't. The new tarmac also dries a lot slower than the old one, but to be honest I think it's not that bad, although as I said it's very strange because you expect a grip at the exit of the last corner which is much better than that of turns 1 and 2. Then at the exit of turn four you have much more XXX. I think that when we start putting more rubber on corner entries, it will be better because in acceleration, where we leave rubber, it's much better. »
Is the old part still dirty?
« Yes, it was still a little dirty but much less than during the test. During the test, as we rode for three days, we could clearly see the black rubber on the trajectory and we could see that no one had driven off the trajectory. So I think it wasn't bad. »
Can you feel the new rear tire construction brought in and does it change the handling of the bike? And if so, is it better or worse for you?
«
For me it's a little worse and you can feel it, but it's completely different because when we finished the test it was three days of testing with a completely erased track, whereas today was the first day and we didn't do as many laps as in the test, so there's not a lot of rubber on the track. So I was expecting a lot more changes with this rear tire, but in my opinion, in terms of performance and consistency, the tire we had in the test was much better. »
What can you improve in sector 1?
« Honestly, in sector 1, I think we really need to improve 2, 3, 4. Especially today, I think I lacked a little bit of passing speed and angle in turn 2. And if I do badly on 2, I do badly on 3 and 4, so I think we really have to focus on 2 and try to make a step, because even to play for the first row and the pole tomorrow, it I'm going to really have to improve this area, otherwise I don't think it will be playable. »
If the race takes place in the dry with a high temperature like Thursday, will it be very difficult physically?
« Honestly, I think it's good that it's hot because physically I feel very strong and I think we won't really have any difficulty managing that on the bike even if it will be very hard. But I think we can handle this well. »
During the winter, you said that you had a lot of trouble chasing the clock. What changed ?
« I think I managed to do a good lap even if I made a few small mistakes. It's a matter of getting used to it a little bit. Even at the end of last year's season, I had a little trouble making these qualifiers. Today we had a good lap and I managed not to make many mistakes on my lap, so I managed to set a good time. »
In terms of heat, do you do anything special to prepare?
« I drink a lot because these are really very difficult conditions. Afterwards, honestly, I think you have to get used to it and it's the same for everyone. I think it's interesting to stay really focused, not to make mistakes, and even not to stay outside for a long time to avoid sweating. I think hydration is the most important thing on this circuit.
»
Indonesia MotoGP Grand Prix FP2 Results at Mandalika Circuit:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
