MotoGP Catalunya: ‘We can have a great fight tomorrow’ - Quartararo

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo claimed a front row start for the CatalanGP with the third fastest time in Saturday’s qualifying.

Celebrating in Parc Fermé for the equally titled event, on the same day Monster renewed a multi-year deal with the factory Yamaha squad, Quartararo was jubilant of his achievements after a challenging first day had seen him on the fringes of the top ten.

“Yesterday was a tough day because we didn’t find any confidence also with new tyre at the end of FP2,” Quartararo said of his start to the Catalan weekend. “Straightaway this morning I could really make great pace with medium/medium, and I didn’t expect that fast - because I was in the ’39’s pretty early.

“I was feeling great in FP4, we wanted to try the hard rear and then we go back with the old medium and we could make some great laps so happy about my pace. Also in qualifying I gave my best, I could make a little bit better but not to fight for P1 and P2 on the time attack but I feel ready for tomorrow.”

When asked if he was relieved by the qualifying performance, the Frenchman was more pleased by his morning efforts.

“The relief was already on my second lap on FP3,” he admitted. “With a medium with a lot of fuel doing ’40.1 - that was my best lap from the day before with a soft doing time attack - was a relief and was the most important thing to have today. Feeling wise, I’m super good on the bike, like yesterday but just feeling with more grip than FP2 and FP1.

“My feeling yesterday was good, but mainly was no grip at all and I felt like yesterday I was riding same as today but just with more rear grip today. We changed a few things on the bike that help us but basically I think that is more about the track condition that