MotoGP Sepang Test: Quartararo ‘expected more’

Monster Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo concluded his first MotoGP test of 2022 happy but wanting more with his YZR-M1.

The reigning champion felt he didn’t make the most of the time attack simulation during his two days at the Sepang International Circuit, despite setting a best lap of 1’58.313, two-tenths faster than his pole time at the Malaysian track in 2019. The fastest Yamaha ended the day seventh in the combined times, with teammate Franky Morbidelli one-second back in 24th and factory test rider Cal Crutchlow 21st.

“Really happy, straight away from the first lap was more natural riding so I was super happy,” Quartararo said as the test concluded on Sunday. “Unfortunately we kept two tyres but we made only one time attack today and we kept the tyres to make two in a row at the end.” His afternoon plans having been disrupted due to tropical rain storms from mid way through the session.

“Coming from a rear tyre that was really old, I didn’t make a great time attack. Even if the lap time was pretty good, I could improve much more. Bit sad because I wanted to go under the ‘58s, with two time attack I think was possible, but happy because even with used tyre I was fast. This morning I make ‘59.4 with 21 laps on the rear, in the afternoon, ‘59.7 with a lot of laps so on my natural riding I’m super happy.”

The improvement was clear to hear after the Frenchman admitted struggling on his first day back at work for the new year.

“In general I need to improve my riding because after three months, I was not doing enough corner speed and that is a strong point of our bike. So I need to improve my riding basically for tomorrow,” he said on Saturday. “I was really aggressive on the brakes and not fast enough on the fast corners