Returning from Texas where they finished third and seventh respectively in the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas, fabio quartararo et Johann zarco passed through Paris for the traditional press conference for the French Grand Prix which will take place from May 12 to 14 on the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans.
As in previous years, this event was held on a Bateaux Mouches barge moored on the quays of the Seine near the Eiffel Tower, and, tired but relaxed, the pilots willingly took part in the question-and-answer game. .
After those placed inside the boat (which you can see here) came the turn of those stated by the journalists present, specialized or not.
Fabio, the absolutely necessary thing for you to achieve a good result or for your Yamaha to achieve a good result is that you give yourself that extra something beyond 100%?
fabio quartararo : " It’s obligatory, it’s especially the first few rounds! The first 2 laps are the most important and I think that in the Sprint race, it went well. Afterwards, we shot. In the normal race, it went well, but I think that, frankly, 80% of our race happens on the first lap. »
And in qualifying?
« Qualifying and first round is 90%, because we always have the rhythm more or less, but it is qualifying and first round which are very important for us.
»
We heard you, during the weekend, express quite clearly the limits that your bike has compared to the rest of the peloton. We have also heard since the beginning of the year, from time to time, a little phrase of frustration about the fact that your teammate is not at the same level, that he is not ahead, but in the end, that Could a fast teammate contribute to the development of your bike today if it has fundamental limitations?
« We will say that, in terms of development, not much, but I think it can help, at least for me, to see where the limit of the bike really is. In Argentina, he did very well in the rain but in terms of pace he was never really much faster than me. And I know that with Maverick, my first year at official Yamaha, the first half season he did with me, I think we really helped each other to have higher speed. There are maybe even circuits or corners where he passes faster and so I try to pass faster and I have a bit of an idea of where the limit of the bike is. There, I feel at the limit everywhere but maybe sometimes, by going or even feeling slower, the time is faster. So for me that's the biggest difference. »
You said after this podium “ I'm happy but not reassured.” What could reassure you?
« Reassured by watching that we can really fight for a very good qualifying, and see the performance of our bike. There, I was passed by Marini on the straight, 14 km/h difference! Knowing that normally we would have taken a step forward in terms of speed! So it's still huge, and on an average of 20 laps in Austin, I think that if we count the time we lost in the straight, that's a lot of time. So reassured, I don't know when we'll be, but, in any case, it's important to work and try to stay calm. »
This podium feels good: Does it give you a little boost before the European tour?
«
Yes, it sure feels good. We will say that in Portimão, we had the speed but by making a very bad start and having difficulty overtaking, it made for a bad result. In Argentina, the pace was there, despite Nakagami hitting me and I started last. So there you have it, a podium there feels good, but as I say, there are still a lot of things missing to really be in front all the time. But little by little, we can do beautiful things. »
You had implied that we were not yet talking in your mind about a battle for the title given the bike, so this podium changes nothing and is not likely to be able to aim for the title...
« For the moment, no, because on top of that, I feel good but we still lack a little bit of speed to really fight for the title. Pecco, he is 2 or 3/10 better than us, so as long as we don't go for these 2 or 3/10, the championship will not be playable. »
We know that for years the Yamaha's problem has been to overtake and fight in packs. Would you say that this is an intrinsic characteristic of the 4 in line compared to the V 4?
«
Honestly, I have no experience with this. I have no experience on V 4 or inline 4, because I have always ridden a motorcycle with inline cylinders, so knowing the differences, I don't know. But in any case, what I see is that the Ducatis go much faster than us, the Aprilias and practically all the bikes that are on the MotoGP peloton too, so, if this is the solution to really go further quickly, I think we have to do it. But then, I know that in racing the most important thing is to have the ability to overtake, and at the moment, we don't have it and that's what we're missing. »
What is so special about the French Grand Prix when you are a French driver?
«
The public! It's the most impressive thing. Last year, I was still enormously surprised to see the number of supporters, the number of people who support us, so it was that more than anything else. In addition, Claude knows how to organize a Grand Prix really well, and not because it's the French Grand Prix, but I think it's the Grand Prix where there are the most things to do on Saturday evening: He there is really a very beautiful show, there are concerts. For the spectators, I think it is one of the most beautiful shows »
And for the pilots?
«
For pilots, seeing as a French pilot means seeing the public. Like I said, it's impressive stuff. »
Do you rank it number one too?
« Yes ! Afterwards, it's sure that maybe a Spanish driver prefers Jerez, or not, but in any case, as a French driver, it's still incredible to see all this support from all the supporters. But thinking as a fan, I think the French Grand Prix is one of the best. »
Precisely, as a French pilot, do you have a particular pressure to achieve results?
« We still have it! We always want to do well, sometimes even too much. But in any case over the last few years, it's true that I've held on to this quite well, it's not even pressure but let's say this stress. But now, this year is the thousandth Grand Prix, I have never won on French territory, so we will have to try to win this first victory in France. »
How important is the Jerez test which arrives in 2 weeks?
« So, honestly, it's not going to be very important because we don't have a lot of things to try. So it will definitely be very important to see if there are some small differences. I know Cal is testing today and tomorrow, or tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, in Aragón. He will already try what we have to try for the test in Jerez; but unfortunately, it won't be very big changes.
»
Let's leave the news aside. Before the start, once on the grid and in the box, even if you listen to music, there is inevitably stress. What exactly are you thinking about? Is there any apprehension?
« We'll say that it depends on the times. Sometimes there are times when we are stressed, and sometimes we are not at all. I do not know why. But I don't think about anything other than trying to make a really good start and trying to fight for the best possible result. But I don't have anything else specific in mind.
Fear, no! There is no fear. Afterwards, it's certain that after the first sprint race in Portimão, honestly it was a bit of a nightmare. I said to myself “there, we’re all going to end up in pieces!” » and finally there were four injured. But Portimão, frankly, was special because we had done the tests there, we were all ready and we went hard from the start. It was a race where there was no fear, but after a while I told myself that there was someone who was going to screw up and who was going to get really hurt. This has been the hottest moment of this season.»
Do you have a ritual before departure?
« No. I just always put the left glove on before the right glove, and every time we go to the grid, as soon as I arrive and I go back to the box. I stay in the box for five or six minutes and then go back to the grid. »
