MotoGP Catalunya Test: Quartararo ‘ready for another fight’

MotoGP Champion Fabio Quartararo was back at the top of the Barcelona timesheets on Monday after topping the Catalan test.

The Monster Energy Yamaha rider, and winner of Sunday’s 24-lap battle, had stiff competition in the form of Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia, with the Italian just 0.004s behind after a busy day of evaluations at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the top four covered by a mere 0.111s after eight hours or riding.

“Was a good day, basically we had nothing really clear to test,” Quartararo admitted on Monday. “We wanted to try a different setting for Sachsenring, some points that we struggled last year.

“We compare the new and old swingarm that we tested in Jerez, some mapping and yes, some electronic setting so nothing really big. We test also some tyres for Michelin so it was nothing really important but a good day.”

The swingarm in question was a continuation of work done across the weekend, obviously with promising results judging by his over six-second domination on Sunday.

“Yes, I use it on the race yesterday and we compare with the old one this morning and was great. I think is a small advantage not a big difference but I feel a little bit better with the new one.”

The new fairing, however, met with the opposite reaction.

“No, we have not tested and we will not use it more,” Quartararo said frankly. “Here was I think one of the worst in the championship with the big aero package and was not a big difference so for the rest of the season, we will use a standard aero package.”

With a full week break before preparation for another double header begins, the defending champion is remaining confident of his potential, despite the top speed deficit he knows will be on show once again.

“Last year we finished