Excellent day for Fabio Quartararo in Malaysia! As is often the case, the Frenchman is fast at Sepang. His Yamaha YZR-M1 is evolving surely but slowly, and he too is starting to really stand out in the peloton. After qualifying in eighth place, he placed fifth in the Sprint, his best result this season (he had already finished fifth in the short format in Jerez but had never done better). What interests him, beyond the results, are the progress made by Yamaha on the electronic level, even if these do not happen without an important counterpart.
Fabio Quartararo had reason to be proud of himself, as did his engineers. This fifth place in Sprint acquired on a regular basis is enough to put a smile on his face. « Today was very positive, especially during FP2. The pace was just excellent. On the other hand, in qualifying, we don't understand how others manage to improve so much. Bagnaia and Martin gain two seconds compared to the other test sessions, and we only one second and two tenths. During the Sprint we rode well too, although I had a bit of trouble with the front tire” he confided to GPOne microphones. It's still very positive.
These improvements are due to modifications recently made to the YZR-M1, particularly on the electronic side. « We made big changes. Usually, this is a point that I criticize a lot and that I consider a flaw compared to the others. But that's why I asked for a change now, on this track which is unlike any other. Now the electronics are different, but more delicate. It's exactly like a 500cc, compared to the Ducati. It’s much more difficult to manage the bike like this, but we go faster” he added. Already yesterday, he said he was constantly fighting with his mount to avoid highsides.
Photo : Michelin Motorsport
Why does this seemingly minor change appear so late in the season, when everything is already decided? Firstly, because Sepang is a unique track, used for crucial tests. Moreover, Yamaha did not run with the new engine during the Sprint. Then, because there were other things to do first. « It would have been possible before, but there were other critical issues to resolve. Here there are many curves where you can get a reliable idea. We can better analyze the situation” he concluded.
What do you expect from Fabio Quartararo for tomorrow? Tell us in the comments!
Sprint result at the 2024 Malaysian Grand Prix:
Ranking credit: MotoGP.com
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
