MotoGP Motegi: ‘In every track we are competitive’ - Quartararo

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo heads to Motegi still in charge of the 2022 MotoGP standings as the flyaway action prepares.

Battered and a little burnt from his Aragon lap one clash with Repsol Honda’s returning Marc Marquez last time out, the reigning champion is eager to gain ground at a track not visited since his rookie year in 2019 but one at which he instantly shone.

“Today I had my first training so was okay,” Quartararo said of his Aragon injuries. “It’s just like abrasions so it’s a little bit painful but I think on the bike is not going to be a big issue. For sure it’s going to be burning, especially on the first session but I think it’s not going to be a problem riding the bike.

“At the end, in every track we are competitive,” he continued on the YZR-M1’s progress this season. “If you check also Red Bull Ring, also Aragon, at the end I never, even in the past I’ve never been competitive there and this time I had a pretty strong pace.

“Unfortunately it ends quite soon my race but I think on the pace there is no track that we are not fast.

“But of course then there is also some circumstances that we are struggling to overtake. I think this track is quite good because I’ve been super strong here in the past and I’m looking forward to be back because I have some really good memories here.

“I think also in 2019 the grip level here was really high,” he reflected on the previous visit. “I remember the race with Marc and Dovi, they were super fast, so the more grip there is on the track, better it is for us.

“Mandalika was super good so I think now there is no reason to have kind of fear about having a wet race. Of course I’m enjoying more in the dry but I think there is not a big issue if it’s on the rain.”