MotoGP Austria: Quartararo ‘super aggressive, fought like a lion’

Fabio Quartararo put on a MotoGP Champion’s performance at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday, as he took on the might of the Ducatis to claim second in Spielberg.

The Monster Energy Yamaha rider clawed back from a bad start which left him struggling in sixth position before an uncharacteristically aggressive move on Jack Miller at the new chicane was rewarded with the runners-up spot on the podium.

“Yeah, it was a great race,” Quartararo reflected from the post-race press conference. “Shame we didn’t make a great start, great first laps. I was little bit struggling with the front to warming up and also the rear. I saw also Joan [Mir] had a big crash in turn four and it took one or two laps to warm up and then I could take my pace.

“Was really good then I was struggling to overtake but I feel like today I was super aggressive, I make many mistakes but I could really save them. Was a tough race but a good one, of course.

“Feels not like a win, because we have 20 points,” he continued on his AustrianGP performance. “But of course, you know, to prepare an overtake is something that is the most difficult for us and actually, we did it well. Was really nice, especially the move on Jack in the chicane, also to Enea [Bastianini], so was nice and I think that today I take a little bit of confidence on my riding style.

“After two tough races it was great to be back and feel our potential. Today I fight like a lion and some moves was really nice.

“I didn’t make many overtakes in my career to be honest, because I think we are struggling to overtake but of course, this one was one of my best,” he said of his lap 25 move on the Australian. “I rate it at least in the top three.

“I brake a little bit too late and he brake a little bit earlier