Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo faced a frustrating sprint in Mandalika, dropping from 6th on the grid to 12th. An attempt to overtake went awry and ended up costing him positions.
The sprint in Mandalika saw Fabio Quartararo slide back in the rankings. The Yamaha rider’s effort to advance resulted in a setback.
On lap seven, the Frenchman tried to overtake Morbidelli but was unsuccessful, leading to a loss of positions. He started in 6th place but finished in 12th.
Quartararo commented on the situation: “It’s the only way for us to overtake, and it went completely wrong. I pushed to the maximum. Overall, we have less grip than them, less acceleration, more wheelspin, and more issues stopping the bike. There is no area where we are stronger than they are. Thus, we have to drive defensively during the race to avoid being overtaken, which prevents us from attempting to overtake.”
The Frenchman added: “We have struggled for a long time in battling with the others. However, especially now that I have the pace, I wasn’t able to execute even one overtaking maneuver. We need to gather points and improve quickly.”
Due to his increased speed, the situation is even more frustrating for the former world champion: “It has always been the same issue. 2022 was quite similar, but other brands weren’t as strong, allowing me to ride further ahead. Now, when you are behind, you feel stuck and can’t do anything.”
When asked about his hopes for maintaining his streak and securing a third consecutive podium in Mandalika, he laughed.
Quartararo said: “No, not at all. We are not fast enough to compete for a podium. We might be able to have a good race and finish in the top six, but it will greatly depend on the race and the first lap.”
Results MotoGP Mandalika, Sprint (September 28):
1. Francesco Bagnaia (I), Ducati, 13 laps in 19:41.354 min
2. Enea Bastianini (I), Ducati, +0.107 sec
3. Marc Marquez (E), Ducati, +1.701
4. Marco Bezzecchi (I), Ducati, +3.072
5. Franco Morbidelli (I), Ducati, +5.967
6. Pedro Acosta (L), KTM, +6.210
7. Maverick Vinales (E), Aprilia, +6.664
8. Johann Zarco (F), Honda, +6.938
9. Fabio Di Giannantonio (I), Ducati, +7.706
10. Jorge Martin (E), Ducati, +9.104
11. Jack Miller (AUS), KTM, +9.618
12. Fabio Quartararo (F), Yamaha, +9.843
13. Brad Binder (ZA), KTM, +11.118
14. Alex Marquez (E), Ducati, +12.418
15. Alex Rins (E), Yamaha, +12.579
16. Aleix Espargaro (E), Aprilia, +12.952
17. Takaki Nakagami (J), Honda, +13.351
18. Luca Marini (I), Honda, +15.496
19. Raul Fernandez (E), Aprilia, +21.895
– Augusto Fernandez (E), KTM, 2 laps back
– Joan Mir (E), Honda, 11 laps back
DNS: Miguel Oliveira (P), Aprilia
World Championship standings after 29 of 40 races:
1. Martin, 341 points. 2. Bagnaia 329. 3. Bastianini 291. 4. Marc Márquez 288. 5. Binder 165. 6. Acosta 161. 7. Viñales 152. 8. Aleix Espargaro 127. 9. Di Giannantonio 122. 10. Alex Márquez 121. 11. Bezzecchi 114. 12. Morbidelli 107. 13. Quartararo 73. 14. Oliveira 71. 15. Miller 58. 16. R. Fernández 49. 17. Zarco 24. 18. Nakagami 21. 19. Mir 20. 20. A. Fernández 20. 21. Rins 15. 22. Pol Espargaro 12. 23. Pedrosa 7. 24. Marini 5. 25. Bradl 2. 26. Gardner 0. 27. Savadori 0.
Constructors’ World Championship:
1. Ducati, 512 points. 2. KTM 243. 3. Aprilia 237. 4. Yamaha 84. 5. Honda 44.
Team World Cup:
1. Ducati Lenovo Team, 620 points. 2. Prima Pramac Racing 448. 3. Gresini Racing 409. 4. Aprilia Racing 279. 5. Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team 236. 6. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 223. 7. Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 181. 8. Trackhouse Racing 120. 9. Monster Energy Yamaha 88. 10. LCR Honda 45. 11. Repsol Honda Team 25.
Fabio Quartararo’s Frustrating Sprint Performance in Mandalika
Race Overview
The sprint race in Mandalika took a disappointing turn for Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo. Starting from 6th on the grid, he plummeted to 12th place, struggling against competitors and bike limitations. An ambitious overtaking attempt on lap seven, aimed at maneuvering past Franco Morbidelli, backfired, further compounding his woes.
The Lap Seven Incident
Quartararo’s overtaking effort was not only a critical moment in the sprint but also emblematic of the challenges facing him throughout the race. He explained, “It’s the only way for us to overtake. And was completely wrong. I pushed to the maximum.” The outcome highlighted Yamaha’s ongoing struggle with grip and acceleration compared to their rivals.
Position Gains and Losses
- Grid Start: 6th
- Lap Seven Attempt: Overtook Morbidelli
- Final Position: 12th
Quartararo’s Frustration
Despite having the pace to compete, Quartararo’s difficulty in overtaking left him feeling trapped behind other riders. “We have been doing quite poorly in the fight against the others for a long time,” he lamented. The former world champion highlighted the urgency for Yamaha to improve their performance to stay competitive.
The Challenges Facing Yamaha
The challenges that Quartararo faced during the Mandalika sprint are indicative of broader issues affecting Yamaha’s performance this season:
- Grip Deficiency: Yamaha has consistently struggled with grip compared to Ducati and KTM.
- Acceleration Issues: Quartararo noted that his bike has “less acceleration” and experiences more wheelspin.
- Braking Problems: Stopping the bike efficiently has become increasingly difficult, impacting overtaking opportunities.
Mandalika Sprint Results
| Position | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati | 19:41.354 |
| 2 | Enea Bastianini | Ducati | +0.107 |
| 3 | Marc Marquez | Ducati | +1.701 |
| 12 | Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha | +9.843 |
World Championship Standings
As of now, the championship standings are highly competitive, with Quartararo currently sitting at 13th place:
| Position | Rider | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jorge Martin | 341 |
| 2 | Francesco Bagnaia | 329 |
| 3 | Enea Bastianini | 291 |
| 13 | Fabio Quartararo | 73 |
Future Prospects for Quartararo
Looking ahead, Quartararo expressed skepticism about his chances of making a significant impact in the next races. He stated, “No, not at all. We are not fast enough to fight for a podium. We might be able to have a good race and finish in the top six, but it will depend a lot on the race and the first lap.”
Key Takeaways and Insights
Despite his setbacks, Quartararo remains focused on maximizing points and improving Yamaha’s competitive edge. Here are some key takeaways:
- Race Strategy: Adopting a defensive strategy may be necessary given the current performance issues.
- Focus on Improvement: Quartararo’s determination to enhance his bike’s performance will be crucial moving forward.
- Leverage Fast Pace: Although he struggles to overtake, leveraging his pace strategically could create opportunities.
Conclusion
Fabio Quartararo’s experience in the Mandalika sprint is a reflection of the broader challenges facing Yamaha in the MotoGP standings this season. As they seek solutions, the focus will remain on optimizing performance for future races.
