MotoGP Opinion: Missed opportunities piling up for Quartararo despite Bagnaia's Le Mans mistake

In some ways, there is an argument Fabio Quartararo dodged the proverbial bullet at his home French GP in Le Mans on Sunday afternoon.

With Pecco Bagnaia, last year’s runner-up and 2022’s pre-season favourite for the title crashing out of second in this weekend’s MotoGP race, Quartararo’s fourth place finish meant he actually gained points on the rider he beat to the world title just a few months ago.

But although that meant that the French favourite did gain points on his closest rival from last year, that was not the case when it came to those who are most closely challenging him in the current campaign.

With Enea Bastiainini claiming victory in France, and Aleix Espargaro coming home in third, both riders were able to close the gap on Quartararo at the top of the Championship standings to less than ten points, and given the circuits we have just been to, that has to be a major concern for the Frenchman.

In the last two races, Jerez and now Le Mans, Quartararo has failed to stand on the top step of the MotoGP podium, something that represents a big chance that has come and gone for the defending champion.

In Jerez, Quartararo has been dominant when fit over the past couple of years, comfortably winning both races there in 2020, and he was well on his way to making it a hat-trick in 2021 before a mid-race arm pump issue.

That meant that a second place in Spain to Bagnaia two weeks ago felt like a chance for a win squandered for Quartararo.

Given the home advantage he had in Le Mans, and the fact that like Jerez, the French circuit is one without the sort of long straights where the Yamaha will not lose out on straight line speed to the Ducatis of the likes of Bagnaia and Bastianini, or the Aprilia of Espargaro, that