Defending MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo has said he did not expect a podium finish at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, but that he was delighted with the pace and performance he showed.
The Frenchman put in a fine performance at Mugello on Sunday to earn P2 come the checkered flag, and he wasn’t far off eventual winner Pecco Bagnaia on the Ducati.
Indeed, Quartararo revealed post-race he felt as though he had the pace to even take victory from Bagnaia, but also said that going into the race he wasn’t expecting a podium at all, and so he’ll more than take it:
“To be honest I think this is the best race of my career, of course I prefer to win but the way I fought during the race was good given we had no confidence coming into it,” said Quartararo.
SCARPERIA, ITALY – MAY 29: Fabio Quartararo of France and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team celebrates the second place and remembers with the flag the young rider Jason Dupasquier of Swiss and Carxpert PrustelGP during the MotoGP Race during the MotoGP of Italy – Race at Mugello Circuit on May 29, 2022 in Scarperia, Italy. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
“I said before that if I could finish fifth or sixth it would be a great result, so to be P2 and only half-a-second from Pecco (Bagnaia) is great.
“I was on the limit every lap and I felt the bike was all over the place, I couldn’t have been more on the edge but I love riding my bike and I was having a lot of fun.
“I think I was faster, but it was tough to overtake and we are missing some horsepower but I am happy and I feel we have made a massive job because we finished on the podium and I didn’t expect that.”
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