Quartararo, with the same number when he was champion

The MotoGP grid is a Grand Prix away from the start of the summer holidays, not exempted from making the appropriate physical preparations to face the second part of the campaign. Coincidentally, ‘el Diablo’ Quartararo accumulated the same points after the first 10 Grand Prix as in 2021 when he was crowned champion. He has a perfect championship on the track, he can reap victories and when he can’t add some good points. He was in champion mode unfortunately for those who remained as main rivals, now Aleix Espargaró from Aprilia and Johann Zarco from Ducati, with 34 and 61 points respectively.

At the Assen Media Day press conference, reduced to two pilots, he and his compatriot Johann Zarco, when the private plane carrying the Espargaró family from l’Alguaire to Lleida to Groningen was delayed, Quartararo reflected that “It was a very good first part.Qatar, Argentina and Austin were a bit tough, I complained too much, I had no speed and I didn’t focus on my driving, and in Europe I focused more on my driving and I had good results, from Portugal to the podium today, except for Le Mans “.

So far this season “the best moment was the victory in Portugal because it came from difficult times, and also the Sachsenring, which I didn’t expect to win on this kind of circuit (left). After the difficulties at the start of the season we have great races in Europe, ”he stressed.

He accumulated the same points last year 172, but it is also true that the setbacks in the form of the compartment syndrome he had to undergo between Jerez and Le Mans or the problem with the suit in Catalonia’s career have cost him a few points. important: “For me last season, I had a better start because I had problems with my arm in Jerez so I lost a lot of points. But I didn’t have to focus on the past but look at the present and except for Mandalika I drove in the best way possible. From Portugal until now we have improved compared to last year, but the first part has been worse this year “.

One of the things for which he stands out is in how he managed the leadership pressure in the year in which he aimed to renew the crown and become the twelfth rider to achieve it in the premier class: “I didn’t feel the period of pressure, To be honest, last year I won the championship and I’m enjoying it this year. Yamaha doesn’t put pressure on me, I don’t need to., before a race or starting a qualifier, I can -stress you feel, the pressure that I can handle it well this year “

RIDERS WHO RENEW MOTOGP TITLE

Geoff Duke (GB) 1953-54-55
John Surtees (GB) 1958-59-60
Mike Hailwood (GB) 1962-63-64-65
Giacomo Agostini (Ita) 1966-67-68-69-70-71-72
Phil Read (GB) 1973-74
Barry Sheene (GB) 1976-77
Kenny Roberts (USA) 1978-79-80
Eddie Lawson (USA) 1988-89
Wayne Rainey (USA) 1990-91-92
Mick Doohan (Aus) 1994-95-96-97-98
Valentino Rossi (Ita) 2001-02-03-04-05 at 2008-09
Marc Marquez (ESP) 2013-14 and 2016-17-18-19

Aleix Espargarowho called Facetime at the press conference, and Johann Zarco is now Fabio’s direct opponent: “With Aleix you never know what to expect, last year he was fast in Assen and with all the circuits to come takes the giant. step and is fighting for the top positions because from the beginning he is top-5 or Top-6 apart from Austin and here he would have been fighting for the podium “.

With Aleix they are neighbors in La Massana and they have a very good vibe and this is the formula for dealing with it: “For me it’s very simple, I take the case and it can be my mom, my dad, my brother. or my cousin who can lose and it’s easy. we have respect for each other because it’s a dangerous sport but there are people with whom you get along better .. it’s easy for me to be so beautiful. a warrior with a knife in the teeth with a helmet “

As for Zarco, he said Ducati is “now the one I consider the most for the title, but we can’t say that Pecco has no options because he’s 91 points behind. Last year on a pair of races he recovered me and now we are in Ecuador and there are 250 points at stake ”.