MotoGP Misano: Quartararo ‘ready to fight at special track’

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo returns to the scene of his MotoGP title clincher as Misano welcomes the San Marino GP.

Despite missing the podium in the second visit to the Adriatic Coast last season, fourth place was enough to claim his maiden premier class championship as title rival Pecco Bagnaia crashed out.

“Of course is a really special place for me for many reasons,” Quartararo said ahead of 2022’s round 14. “For the title of course from last year, but is also in 2019 the first time I really fight for victory, so is a special place. A track that I like so, hopefully we gonna make it well this year also.”

While Ducati’s challenger was unsuccessful in his bid last season, his recent run of form has placed Bagnaia firmly back in the mix after three consecutive victories across the summer and with Misano world Circuit Marco Simoncelli being the Italian’s local track, Quartararo knows he will be the man to beat again this weekend.

“Recently is a bit normal to fight against them [Ducati] but actually, I’ve always been super fast here in Misano,” the Frenchman acknowledged of the 4.2km circuit. “In race one we have been fighting until the last point with Pecco, couldn’t try an overtake but we were pretty close and second race of course was different.

“But I’m ready to fight, looks like the weather is gonna be tricky, but is the same for everyone.”

Austria last time out provided the reigning champion with some fundamental knowledge of his rival, after being stuck in a ‘Ducati sandwich’ at the Red Bull Ring for the majority of the weekend.

“I’ve seen some cool memes about that, most of all because in Austria was pretty special,” Quartararo admitted. “I was always in between. They have almost half of the