On this Thursday, May 27, 2021, fabio quartararo answered questions from journalists from the Mugello circuit ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French driver who currently occupies first place in the championship.
The press conference ahead of the Italian Grand Prix welcomed Fabio Quartararo, Francesco Bagnaia, Johann Zarco, Jack Miller, Aleix Espargaro and Valentino Rossi.
As usual, we report here the words of fabio quartararo without any formatting, even if it is translated from English.
Fabio, you lead the championship by one point but Ducati has won the last three editions here and Yamaha which has had many successes with Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo: what do you expect this weekend?
fabio quartararo : " I'm expecting a great race. Honestly, when we were in Qatar I felt a bit the same way because Ducati had won the last three races there as well. Right now we feel good on the bike and I know that, OK, we know the straight isn't our strong point, but there's a lot of corners here, a lot of fast corners, and it's where I feel very good. I think we just need to start the weekend like a normal weekend and not think about Ducati's three wins or that there is a long straight. We just need to get going, establish our rhythm, and we'll see on Sunday. But the most important thing is that we have a very good feeling on the bike. »
“There are many fast corners here which is where I feel really good” 🎙️ – @FabioQ20
Quartararo looking to take Yamaha's first victory in Mugello since 2016! 💪#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/LIfJm1jmpd
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 27, 2021
Five years ago here we had the closest finish in Moto3. Do you remember it?
« Yes, I remember this race perfectly. I missed a speed in the straight and I missed the podium, but it was really good, a very good race, in fact one of the only very good races I had in 2016. But you know, Moto3 races are always fun, and even more so here at Mugello. »
Do you think you will beat the speed record set in Qatar and what do you think of the speeds reached this year?
« First of all, I'm not going to break the top speed record (laughs)! I hope I could be close enough, but yes, Mugello is a fantastic track. Each time we go faster and faster and it's always good to come here. Like every year, the approach to the first corner is quite tricky, but it's Mugello and I think every driver has to get used to it. In FP1, the first few laps are always a bit scary but eventually you get used to it lap after lap. »
Are you worried about the future of Mugello, which is now part of the Old School circuits, and which is perhaps no longer suitable for the speeds we reach today?
« In the end, I think that turns 1 and 14 are the two corners where it's a bit dangerous, because they are corners where it's difficult to change. Honestly, I do not know. So far everything has gone well and we're keeping our fingers crossed that it continues like this. I care more about the present than the future. »
The main change on the bikes seems to be the holeshot device. How difficult does that make things for you on Sunday at the start against the Ducati?
« Yes, we struggle a little at the start compared to the other bikes, but ultimately we have to manage it and do our best. We have progressed a bit during this season, and also at Le Mans a bit in electronics, so we will see if we find something more here and for the future. »
Photo credits: MotoGP.com
