MotoGP, Quartararo: “Yamaha won’t listen to me for the 2020 bike”

Fabio Quartararo’s first season in MotoGP has just ended. The French rider was the true revelation of this 2019 and, apart from a few isolated cases – Dovizioso, Rins and Vinales – he was the only real thorn in Marc Marquez’s side, especially in qualifying. With today’s second position, Quartararo won this e seventh podium of the season, and six pole positions. The numbers of a veteran, not a rookie.

It’s been a perfect year,” Fabio confirmed. “At the beginning of the last seasoneveryone was saying that I didn’t deserve this place. I worked for this unique opportunity and have always been ahead.”

You seem to be more comfortable with the MotoGP than the Moto2. Why?

“Yes, maybe. Since I got this opportunity with Yamaha, my brain has totally changed and focuses only on the MotoGP. Even when I’m home, I think of the MotoGP. I watch the races. I’m concentrated to the maximum.”

But after seven podiums, I’m still missing a victory. Can you reach Marquez’s level?

“I have to improve to keep fighting with Marquez. He has something more than me. He’s at his best, and he has a bike that fits him. I’m in my first year, and I’ve worked a lot. I’m almost in qualifying, but I’m still missing something.”

Tuesday, the new season will start with a Yamaha that is slowly catching up with Honda and Ducati. Have you already given indications for developing the bike to Iwata’s engineers?

Yamaha won’t follow my test directions. I do not know if it is a mistake or not. The engine must improve because we lose a lot from Marquez in the straight”.