Criville: "Quartararo has no solid rivals this season"

Ambassador Woonkly and the only Spanish 500cc world champion, Alex Criville, reviewed the news ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, the eleventh round of the season that will take place this weekend at the historic Assen TT Circuit and marked the holiday break.

Why do you think Assen always conducts epic battles in MotoGP?

Assen is a great circuit. I’ve always wanted it, even when I was riding a Yamaha before and it cost me more. I did a regular season, but here in Assen things went well. It’s a circuit with banking, with a lot of grip and with a little straight. In other words, it’s a circuit that riders usually love and it means that everyone usually runs fast.

After his third victory of the year, Fabio Quartararo now has a 34 -point lead against second -placed Aleix Espargaró at half -time of the season. Do you think this year shows a better version than what was seen last season, when he was proclaimed MotoGP world champion?

Fabio Quartararo this season has grown more than in the past. He’s sure of himself and he has no solid rivals this season. The fact that Marc Márquez is not here lets Fabio Quartararo know that no rider surpasses him. Although he doesn’t have the best bike, he’s comfortable and he does the rest. This means he tops the overall MotoGP classification and has won races with ease and recently with ease.

Fabio Quartararo was hesitant at the start of the season, do you think he lost focus when he realized his Yamaha hadn’t evolved?

Fabio Quartararo was a bit hesitant at the start of the season because he found a Yamaha that didn’t evolve like other brands. Suzuki has improved to top speed, Ducati has built a really competitive engine and Honda is racing as well. All of this caused Fabio Quartararo to be skeptical, but then he kept up with Yamaha and saw that it had other good points such as a very smooth engine torque that allows the wheels to hold properly. at the end of the race. In other words, it has grown. Despite not having the fastest bike, he is the fastest.

Almost without noise, Johann Zarco is third in the overall MotoGP classification, although 61 points behind his compatriot. What can we expect from the Frenchman at the Dutch Grand Prix?

When Johann Zarco has everything in place, he is a very fast driver, although he is a bit irregular if we examine his sporting career. We should remember that he is a two-time Moto2 world champion and he is a rider with many podiums. He still has a year on his contract with Ducati so, a priori, he has everything in order to tackle this season with a clear goal: try to find podiums and win races. He had a great career in Germany, where he took second position and pinned Fabio Quartararo. Johann Zarco is one of the fastest riders in MotoGP.

Pecco Bagnaia scored his fourth zero of the year at the Sachsenring and is now sixth in the overall classification, 91 points behind Fabio Quartararo. Do you think the Italian threw away his chances of fighting for the title?

Pecco Bagnaia is very far from the overall MotoGP classification when we have reached the halfway point of the season and it is very difficult to catch up with Fabio Quartararo. It is also true that Pecco Bagnaia is in a difficult position and under intense pressure because he just wants to win. Sometimes the search for success leads you to make mistakes. At the Sachsenring, it’s only worth the victory after taking the pole. Fabio Quartararo starts to leave and he stays. I think he said ‘All or nothing’ because he was having a good career. Now, I don’t think Fabio Quartararo will be eliminated and it has to be hard for Pecco Bagnaia. There are still races left and let’s be confident that the Pecco Bagnaia along with the Ducati, which is a very fast bike, can win the races.

Do you think the possible return of Pol Espargaró to KTM with the Tech3 team will be positive for the Spaniard?

Pol Espargaró is going through difficult times. Honda still doesn’t hit the head and can’t find the right set-up. It cost both Pol Espargaró and Honda and it seemed like it was a marriage that hadn’t been comfortable in any time. You already know what KTM is because you’ve been working with them for years. Things are likely to be better for him than Honda because Pol Espargaró is a great rider.

What is your forecast for the Dutch Grand Prix MotoGP podium?

I think Fabio Quartararo is on fire for his fourth win of the season because he loves Assen and he is so strong. Hopefully Pecco Bagnaia can also get to the podium. From there, we will bet on Aleix Espargaró to complete the podium.

Augusto Fernández took seven races to get on the podium, but he already had two wins and a third position that brought him to third position in the overall Moto2 classification, 12 points behind leader Celestino Vietti. Do you think he will be able to lead from the Italian?

Augusto Fernández was very strong and Celestino Vietti made many mistakes. The fact of having Pedro Acosta by his side made him grow up and he knew he could beat his rivals. At the Sachsenring, he gave us a demonstration of how to ride fast and drift. Assen is a very twisty circuit, very technical and very driver, so I’m sure he’ll be able to defend himself there and take points from Celestino Vietti.

Izan Guevara proves to be the fittest rider in Moto3 and is already second in the general classification, seven points behind Sergio García Dols. Do you think his colleague’s reaction will come?

Assen will be a war between teammates. Izan Guevara has been unstoppable recently and Sergio García Dols knows his teammate is very fast. The two are on the same level, although Izan Guevara is a bit more motivated because he really wants to be chased. On the other hand, Sergio García Dols is timely and has more experience. Obviously this season the Moto3 title will remain with Jorge Martínez Aspar’s team and the one who will best withstand the pressure in the second half of the season is the champion.