MotoGP: 'Brain deactivation' proves a stroke of genius by Fabio Quartararo in Germany

Speaking on Saturday, Fabio Quartararo admitted he had to switch his brain off during that afternoon’s MotoGP qualifying session, ahead of the following day’s German Grand Prix.

By taking that approach, that saw the Frenchman simply go all out for one lap, rather than focus on the issues that had been holding him back in practice earlier in the weekend, the defending world champion had been able to secure himself second place on the grid for Sunday’s all-important race.

Although those efforts may not have been enough to secure him the often much-coveted pole position, they regardless look to have turned into an absolute masterstroke from the factory Yamaha rider.

Had Quartararo not gone all out to claim that place on the front row of the grid, then form and times from the rest of the weekend, suggests that the title race leader could have found himself behind at least six Ducatis on the grid, as well as the Aprilia of the man sitting second to him in the Championship standings; Aleix Espargaro.

If that had been the case, then the short run that there is to the first corner at the unique Sachsenring circuit, combined with the speed of those rival bikes off the line, would have left Quartararo with a hugely difficult task to get anywhere near the front runners in the opening stages.

With the race pace those riders had shown, combined with the lack of overtaking opportunities there is around the Sachsenring, that could potentially have left the Frenchman struggling to claim a podium place, and at risk of losing points to his Championship rivals.

But by putting himself in such a strong position on the grid, Quartararo was able to get an inch-perfect start and lead off the line in Sunday’s race, rather than having to battle