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For Fabio, the Valencia circuit will be an unparalleled challenge. The Frenchman will really have to give everything, because victory is the only option left to get his hands on the title, and maybe that won't be enough. In fact, the standings are clear, Bagnaia's 23 points leave little room for manoeuvre for Quartararo, who would need both a victory and a bad result from his rival to snatch the title from his rival.
Thanks to a second half of the championship well below expectations in which his rival has literally devoured the advantage accumulated until the summer break, the Frenchman will therefore have to pull the proverbial rabbit out of his hat to overturn expectations.
Overall, however, the season of Fabio and his Yamaha cannot be considered negative, especially if one compares his results to those of his teammates who, unlike the Frenchman, have achieved very little on the Yamaha this year. All is not lost, at least according to the math, but the last race weekend promises to be an uphill struggle for the Frenchman because, in his words, he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Like any rider, you will want to win this race, but here at Valencia, victory is the only option left. Do you think you can be more relaxed than Pecco in facing this last GP?
"The goal is clear to everyone, I only have one chance to win the title and I have nothing more to lose so I'll give my best trying to win the race - the Frenchman confesses - it's not the best possible situation to be in at the end of the championship, but it's the best possible to tackle a race. Whatever happens on Sunday, it will be an all-in race for me, after a difficult but overall positive season. "
The Valencia circuit does not lend itself to easy overtaking, this will make qualifying even more crucial for the Sunday of the race.
"Last year there was that problem at the front, which this year shouldn't be there. This will be a big plus for us. Obviously qualifying will be important so I'll have to tackle it to the best of my ability."
Last weekend at Sepang you really gave everything in the race, despite a fractured finger of your hand, and managed to finish on the podium. There are rumours that you will have an operation.
"Yes, at the end of the championship I have decided to undergo an operation, the finger is bent. It is not so much a question of pain, because even last weekend in the race with painkillers I managed to finish the race, and in this end week the situation has definitely improved, but in everyday life I would like to have a normal finger back ".
In Malaysia we also saw you at the end of the race with Maio Meregalli and Diego Gubellini, when they congratulated you and told you that you are an incredible rider. What lessons have you learned from this season for the future?
"The start of the season was not the best, we had problems with the engine right away, there were also many discussions about it. I wasn't as concentrated as I should have been, then we found the right pace and we got excellent results in the first half of the season. In the second half, however, the rival manufacturers made some big steps forward from a technical point of view, and although we have always maintained our level of performance, the difference was there. We also made mistakes, but I think that you learn more from difficult seasons, so I don't feel like giving negative judgments on the whole. "
Between you and your rival, Pecco, there is great respect at a competitive level. What do you think of him as a rider?
"We often talk about Ducati's performance, but he is the top rider on that bike, and that says a lot. I hope we will have fun challenging each other in this last race, and then celebrate on Sunday evening, whatever way it ends."
When was the first time you and Pecco had a duel on the asphalt?
"We have known each other for many years, when I started he was already competing in a higher category. In 2015 in my first race in Qatar I was literally crazy, then later we clashed in Moto2, at the time he was faster on his bike and I I was further back. I hope that this weekend we will have another good duel. "
There was a moment this season in Portugal when you were more than 90 points ahead of Bagnaia. When did you start seeing him as the real rival this season?
"Sooner than you think. At Silverstone we saw the real potential of Pecco on his Ducati, but in fact he was fast all season and I knew he would be the rival to beat. Then we unfortunately also made mistakes ".
What are the qualities of your rival that you admire most?
"For sure his speed. Pecco has always achieved excellent results in qualifying, and has had the ability to easily adapt to all circuits, which is something that can’t be taken for granted. On TV he seems much slower than he actually is on the track when you face him ".
This second half of the season hasn't been easy to manage. Did you have the opportunity to talk to someone to face these last races with the right mentality? Did you get to talk to Lewis Hamilton, who has had very similar experiences?
"I spent a lot of time with my friends, especially Jake Dixon. I think my desire to excel sometimes leads me to make mistakes, and so there have been some circuits where I have not raced the way I would have liked, without having fun. Hamilton I spent some free time at Mugello, but we didn't have the opportunity to talk about this. "
It is the twentieth race of a very long championship. How exhausting is it physically and mentally for a rider, and what are your expectations for next year, in which the number of races will double with the sprint races?
"It was a very long championship, starting from the tests, so a bit of physical and mental fatigue is normal. As for next year, it is difficult to know for sure because it will be something that we will all face for the first time, but I think it will be very tiring, after all a start is always stressful for a rider, so having more than 40 on the calendar won't be a walk in the park. "
Are you more excited for Sunday's race, or for the next tests to see what Yamaha will bring next year?
"Obviously I am anxious to race - the Frenchman replied, not without hiding a smile - but I am also curious to know what Yamaha will bring to the tests, the leaked news seems excellent".
