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The crash in the Sprint was the only small blemish on what was a weekend to remember for Fabio Quartararo in Jerez. Having started from the first place on the grid thanks to the phenomenal pole position he achieved yesterday, the Yamaha rider immediately took the lead in the Spanish GP, keeping control of things until the 11th lap of the race, when he had to give way to the mighty comeback of Alex Marquez on the Team Gresini Ducati. He may not have won the race, but El Diablo can nonetheless rejoice in having earned his first podium finish of the year, on the very track where he had struggled the most in 2024.
"It was a really special weekend for me, especially the pole position and the fairly aggressive start in the Sprint, with Marc in Turn 1. We were fast this weekend and we know that we struggle a bit more on Sunday after the Moto2 race, but I was able to make my pace and, even though my lines are different from the others, I was able to lead the race for a few laps," recalled Fabio. "It was was really important for us, because after Alex passed me I couldn't even follow him for a few corners, but then I was able to make my pace and finish in the best position I could finish in today."
It was a good race, which allowed the 2021 MotoGP champion to return to the podium after a long period.
"I enjoyed the race, also because it had been so many years since I had was in the lead of a MotoGP race. The feeling of not having anyone in front of us is fantastic, and I think it was a good step for me from a mental point of view to know that we are fast and can fight with our opponents," he underlined, "However, I think we should not have any expectations for the next races, because the bike is the same as the last two Grands Prix and we know how much we struggled in Qatar. We have to try to keep calm and the day we have the opportunity to do this kind of GP we will do our best to take it and do what we did today."
Despite the M1's struggles on Sunday, Quartararo also performed quite well in the early laps of the race. What has changed today compared to previous events?
"Nothing: we continue to struggle, but I think the battle between Bagnaia and Marc Marquez in the early laps helped me take some margin," replied the Yamaha rider. "My goal was the same as yesterday, which was to go very strong in the early laps and then keep my pace. I asked too much of the front, but we still struggle at the beginning of the race."
Top speed and traction, historical problems of the M1, also did not seem to give any particular headaches to the Frenchman, who tried to explain what this improvement in performance seen in Andalusia might be due to.
"As I said, the bike is the same as at Austin. We simply stopped doing multiple setups over the course of the weekend, trying to keep the same bike, rather than changing everything, and have me take it to the limit. We don't have anything right now that has moved us forward, whereas tomorrow (in testing, ed.) we hope to have something. This is the kind of weekend where I felt good right away, and I have carried those good feelings through to today. It's precisely because the bike is the same that I said I have no expectations for the next races, but we'll see if we can continue on this wave in the next rounds," commented the 26-year-old, admitting also that he had no particular problems with vibration produced by the rear tire.
"We have never had any problems with chattering, as much as we are experiencing a little bit of it this year. It's like it only happens in some particular corners, like the very long right-hand corner in Qatar where the rear jumps on entry. Here I had no vibration except in the race in Turns 7 and 8, the two fast left-handers, and that's a very strange thing because it has never happened to us in the past. Listening also to the other riders though, it seems that the corners are very similar and so are the vibrations," he explained.
Fabio wants to keep his feet on the ground, especially since the next Round will be held at his home circuit.
"I think Le Mans is a good track for me because there is a lot of aggressive braking and it is a track where there is not a lot of tire degradation. I think that was kind of the key to this weekend, because in Qatar, where we know there is tire wear, I think the Ducatis push a little bit less than we do to keep their time, while I get to a point where I have a big drop," he noted, "Here I was able to push hard the whole race with low tire drop and Le Mans is that kind of race that can be similar to this one. But I don't want to be too enthusiastic, because if I create expectations for myself and want to get on the podium and then finish fifth, I won't be happy. Of course I will give it my all, as I did this weekend, and I hope to attend the press conference (reserved for the top three, ed.) on Sunday."
While the Iwata-based manufacturer continues to work hard on developing V4-powered bikes for the near future, Quartararo showed that the M1 continues to have strengths even with the inline-four. Asked how he would like to see development continue, he said, "I can't say which one I prefer, because I haven't ridden the new bike yet. One thing we have to improve, I don't know if with our current bike or the one with the V4, is the way we approach corners, because we use the front a lot under braking and not the rear. Turning alone is pretty good, but as soon as you make a little mistake under braking and the bike slides, it's very aggressive. I think adopting the V4 is the way to be closer to this riding style, but I just want to have a fast bike and fight with the others. It will be difficult, and I hope Yamaha will be able to manage the two projects in parallel in the best way possible. We will see."
The French rider then talked about the fact that Yamaha historically goes very fast in turns 11 and 12 at Jerez, both in MotoGP and Superbike.
"I think the R1 and the M1 are two very different bikes. Although with a similar engine," he pointed out, laughing after a remark from Bagnaia. "For example, last year, though, those were the corners where we struggled the most: the bike was moving so much and not leaning. From last season to now, I think we will have changed at least four or five engine specs to have better handling of the bike and less shaking. Unfortunately, we lost a little bit in terms of power, because the engine was very fast but very aggressive. So, it doesn't matter if the Yamaha was strong in the past or not: last year I finished 15th with compartment syndrome and 40 seconds behind first, while this year we are much closer. There is no comparison to be made with the past, now it's all about the details."
