Yamaha rider Quartararo (7th): “Grip changes everything on a motorbike!”

Ahead of the race weekend in Japan, Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo emphasised that it was important for him to set fast lap times in the practice sessions and qualifying to at least secure a good starting position for the races. The M1 generally performs quite well over a single lap, but in races it’s a different story – as was the case at the Red Bull Ring, where, despite a good grid position, he could only manage 12th and 17th place.

On Friday, he managed a few fast laps in the MotoGP qualifying session at Motegi. In the end, it was enough for 7th place and direct progression to Q2 on Saturday – meaning he had achieved his minimum target for the weekend.

“The most important thing was to get that one lap right,” confirmed the Frenchman. “That lap was brilliant. I made a few mistakes, but I think we made the best of it. We also had a pretty good pace today.”

The new tarmac suits Quartararo

The Twin Ring Motegi has been resurfaced, which could work in the Yamaha rider’s favour – was that the case on Friday? “The new surface offers more grip. That’s why we’re in this position, especially over a single lap,” Quartararo is certain. “Without grip, we know where we stand, because ultimately it’s a similar track to the Red Bull Ring. Grip changes everything on a motorbike!”

Given the pace Quartararo showed in Friday’s qualifying, is more possible in the races too? “No. It’ll be difficult because we’re lacking a lot in terms of engine power,” the 27-year-old dismissed the idea. “To be honest, I’m not really focused on the result at the moment. I just want to have fun and try to get the most out of the bike – that’s my goal for now and for the rest of the year.”

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03.10.2026 - 01:35