A solid race with the second bike after the fall for Quartararo

Fabio Quartararo will certainly derive great double satisfaction from this Malaysian Grand Prix: that, of course, of his fine finish in sixth place, 16 seconds behind the winner Pecco Bagnaia. But above all the circumstances in which this occurred, with the other part of the story: the Frenchman found himself involved in the spectacular triple gadin at the start of the Grand Prix, during which the Yamaha rider not only ended up on the ground, caught up in Jack Miller's fall, but could feel the Australian's helmet hitting his rear wheel…

Losing his KTM in the second corner of the race, Miller collided with Quartararo and Brad Binder, all three of whom ended up on the ground. The red flag was even required, the time to take care of Miller, lying on the tarmac and unable to get up alone in the minutes following the accident.

Finally returned from the medical center of the circuit on foot and lively while the field was in its new formation lap in preparation for the second start from the grid, Miller remained a spectator of the race, while Quartararo for his part was able to ride on his second bike and refocus on his race, which Binder was unable to do, hit in the shoulder.

Worn tires and a spare motorbike to get back in the saddle

What followed was a great Grand Prix, like the sprint race the day before, during which Quartararo was able to set a good pace and once again benefit from the significant improvements made to the management of his electronics. M1.

The icing on the cake, the successive falls, in front of him, of Franco Morbidelli, then fourth, then of Marc Márquez, then third, finished setting the scene for a race destined to end well for the Frenchman.

“A little sore in the shoulder and leg but it’s okay”he whispered upon arrival, at the microphone of Canal+. “I think we saved ourselves from a nice fall for us and especially for Jack and Brad, so it’s okay, I think the consequence of the fall was not too, too serious.”

“I didn't think I would do as well because unfortunately, we started with a tire that was quite worn. Finally, we left with one that had done more than four laps because we didn't have any left and we took a time-attack tire so already the performance at the start, it's quite complicated The drop was quite big so there you go, unfortunately, we couldn't fight for fourth position, but I think we did! a great race.”

Quartararo's ability to adapt was important in the race: the crash at the start meant that he also found himself with a package that was clearly less competitive than the one with which he had started the initial start.

“Yes, plus we left with the other bike, which had an engine that was really worn out”he recalls. “So unfortunately the power was still a little bit less. With the tires having five revolutions, especially on a circuit like this where the degradation is enormous, unfortunately we couldn't do what we wanted. I think that the final position was sixth, but I think I could have had a little more fun with Márquez, Acosta and finished a little closer”he still regrets.

The last round of the season should take place in Barcelona in two weeks. A circuit which would also serve as a good reference point for the tests to be carried out in preparation for the 2025 season, immediately afterwards.

“I think that, technically, it’s not bad in Barcelona”approves the 2021 world champion. “We know that it is a track which is not very good for us in terms of results. On the other hand, we know that if we have the test on Tuesday, it is a track which is very good for working and trying to have more grip.”