New Moto GP champion, Fabio Quartararo says that despite Yamaha lacking the required horsepower (as compared to other manufacturers on the grid 2021); he still felt like a champion in the front end. He gives the credit of her excellence to the bike itself.
New Moto GP world champion Fabio Quartararo has given credits to Yamaha for his improved 2021 package. He extended his sincere regard to the company for the same.
Yamaha has endured an intense and frustrating period in the year 2020 despite taking the second position with Franco Morbidelli.
Quartararo commented that they were already looking like potential champions in this particular season.
That has their fans have high hopes for them.
However, crucial steps were taken by the Japanese manufacturer this season in order to allow Quartararo to make up for any deficiencies it has and therefore clinch a world title.
The exact issues that cost Quartararo last year’s title turned out to be his biggest strengths in 2021. These factors were front end feeling, braking, and turning. Along with that as we saw on Sunday- being able to overtake - something all Yamaha riders previously struggled with.
And while these factors played a massive role, Quartararo alluded to the ‘front end feeling’ being the major improvement relative to 2019 and 2020, a feeling that made him feel ‘at one’ throughout the season.
Quartararo commented, "Honestly, during the last year we fought very hard to get the factory bike but with the Covid situation and everything, the 19 bike was better. With 2021 (bike) I felt much better and the feel I got on the front is what made me I think win. We are aware that power is something we need to work on, but the feeling I had to take care on the brakes; not just this race, but in general, has been much greater than 19 and 20. Yamaha has worked a lot. We still have a lot to work on for next year because we know power is something so important. But in this moment I was feeling at one with the bike."
Although Quartararo looked unflustered for much of the year, something that can’t be said about him last year, the Frenchman believes the experience he went through was just as vital to his maiden title as the equipment he had with him.
Quartararo said: "Right before the race, I was with Tom (best friend and personal assistant) and I was anxious, I was feeling stressed. But he said ‘just think about the last three races of last year’ which were a complete disaster. I can recall just wanting to finish the championship at whatever the position was. Today I started the race which made me a world champion. I think everything that happened during last year has guided me a lot to win the title today. Thanks to all these people for supporting me at this moment and I think I learned a lot during these two years in Moto GP, but I still have a lot to learn to get more results like that."
Quartararo’s championship win last Sunday at Misano marks his first as a Moto GP rider which is the first ever for a French rider in the premier class and Yamaha’s first since Jorge Lorenzo in 2015.