MotoGP Argentina: Quartararo ‘struggling to fight’

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo has an uphill climb once again as MotoGP arrives in Argentina for round two.

With his YZR-M1 still struggling to overtake his rapid rivals, strong qualifying is key as the 2021 champion attempts to position himself well within the podium fight, but with 11th the best he could muster at Portimao’s inaugural Saturday outing, it’s clear there is work still to be done.

“The pace was not too bad but already starting from the back, making not great first laps was tough to come back but the pace was good,” Quartararo said of his building potential, from Thursday’s press conference. “Just, to try to make an overtake we have to figure out what we can improve, to have similar riding than the others.

“We have to improve,” he reiterated. “Clearly we have more or less the same problem in a race and in time attack so we have to use these races to make an improvement. Basically for the qualifying because right now, especially with our bike, is a big part of our weekend.

“We have a great potential to ride fast but then when it’s about fight with the others, we are struggling a little bit more.

“That’s what we are trying to work with, with Yamaha, to figure out how out of the corner to stay closer to them, to at least prepare an overtake, because we have to overtake in some area where always is really, really tough. Hopefully we find a solution soon but we have to stay calm because there is still many, many races to go.