Fabio Quartararo’s hopes for a first MotoGP podium of season took a hit when he crashed early during Thai Grand Prix. But he expressed optimism about the potential pace of his Yamaha team. The incident occurred on lap four after contact with Franco Morbidelli, which left Quartararo feeling that a strong finish was still within reach despite the setback.
“It’s difficult to gauge,” Quartararo remarked after the race, reflecting on his performance. “I was always watching the TV to see where [Francesco] Bagnaia was. He was pulling away, but not at a crazy pace. I believe a finish between third and seventh was realistic.”
Throughout the weekend, Yamaha faced challenges with rear tyre temperature, an issue that lingered even in the wet conditions on race day. Quartararo noted, “From morning warm-up, we struggled to warm up the rear tyre. Especially on the left side, and the electronics were tough to manage. There was a lot of cutting, and the bike wasn’t performing consistently. Some corners felt good while others didn’t, which is something I still don’t fully understand.”
Despite the difficulties, Quartararo found a silver lining in his lap times following the crash. He was able to maintain a competitive pace, comparable to race winner Bagnaia, consistently clocking mid-to-high 1:40s even with significant bike damage. “After the crash, even without a wing, with a bent steering, no rear brake, and a footpeg cut in half, I still managed to set a good pace, which is quite positive,” he stated.
He also highlighted improvements made with his Yamaha YZR-M1 throughout the day, particularly in his feel for the front tyre. “We’ve been quite strong in the wet during straight braking. I struggled in the morning, but this afternoon was better. There was still some front locking, but I could feel the progress from morning to afternoon. That’s why I wanted to continue riding after the crash, to gauge whether the electronics had improved.”
However, the issue of front locking became more pronounced as the race progressed. “By the end, it was critical for us; I lost a lot of time. On straight braking, there was significant locking. The grip of the bike is heavily dependent on track conditions. When the track has grip, we perform much better than when it doesn’t.”
As Quartararo looks ahead, he remains hopeful that the insights gained from this race will help him and the Yamaha team make further strides in upcoming competitions.
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