Fabio Quartararo described the Italian MotoGP race at Mugello as a “disaster” after dropping from fifth on the grid to finish 14th, highlighting Yamaha’s ongoing rear grip difficulties in hot, low-traction conditions. The French rider was also managing a shoulder injury sustained during a crash on Friday, compounding the tough weekend for both himself and the Yamaha team.
While Quartararo acknowledged the pain in his shoulder, he emphasized that the more pressing issue was the persistent lack of rear grip on the Yamaha M1, which severely hampered his performance throughout the race weekend.
Physical Struggles and Bike Performance Issues Combine Against Quartararo
Quartararo noted that his physical condition was compromised but not his main concern. He said,
“Today, my shoulder felt bad, of course, but it wasn’t the worst,”
—Fabio Quartararo. The bike’s handling worsened significantly after the early sessions on Friday, with particular difficulty when changing direction on the track.
He added,
“Already in the Sprint yesterday, I felt a drop on the tyre. Today was even more, and our bike – when the grip is super low – is really a disaster on changing direction, and physically it was really tough.”
—Fabio Quartararo. This combination of physical strain and poor bike grip made it difficult for Quartararo to maintain competitive lap times as conditions heated up.
Decline in Race Position and Grip Problems Surface Late in Competition
Despite starting well, having qualified fourth and previously winning at Mugello during his 2021 title season, Quartararo’s performance slipped sharply. He finished tenth in the Sprint race and dropped further to 14th place in the main event, lagging 26 seconds behind the winner by the checkered flag.
Quartararo explained,
“The hotter it is, the less grip we have,”
—Fabio Quartararo.
“We could not make great lap times, but also the feeling of the bike is completely different. Let’s see what we can do in the next races. But here was a disaster.”
—Fabio Quartararo. His pace dropped dramatically in the final laps, falling into the 1m 49s range, slower by over two seconds than his best rounds earlier in the race.
He revealed the physical toll of the race, stating,
“The last six laps I was running in ’49s so I knew that people were coming, but I preferred to slow down because I was not able to really brake.”
—Fabio Quartararo.
Team and Competitors’ Finishing Positions Reflect Yamaha’s Struggles
Quartararo was passed towards the end by Miguel Oliveira from Pramac Yamaha, while teammate Alex Rins finished two seconds behind him. Jack Miller was the only notable rider to retire due to clutch issues. The riders who finished behind the Yamaha riders included test riders and a rookie: Takaaki Nakagami on a Honda, Lorenzo Savadori on an Aprilia, and Somkiat Chantra on a Honda.
Quartararo emphasized the need for solutions, observing,
“So we have to ask ourselves questions and see what we can do,”
—Fabio Quartararo.
“Because when conditions are a bit more difficult, the delta [to the others] is completely different.”
—Fabio Quartararo.
Unexpected Performance Fluctuations Have Raised Concerns
Earlier in the season, Quartararo surprised many with multiple pole positions, a podium finish at Jerez, and leading the race at Silverstone before Aragon. However, the steep drop in race pace at Mugello, a track where he has historically performed well, was unexpected.
He admitted,
“I didn’t expect the pole positions and to be this fast on one lap,”
—Fabio Quartararo.
“But I also didn’t expect to be that far in these races, at tracks where basically I’ve always been fast. Like here.”
—Fabio Quartararo.
Outlook for Yamaha and Quartararo Following Mugello Setback
The difficulties Quartararo and Yamaha faced at Mugello highlight ongoing challenges with rear grip that become exacerbated in hot conditions. This issue significantly impacted race pace and handling, leaving the rider physically drained and results disappointing. As Quartararo looks ahead to upcoming races, both he and Yamaha must work to improve performance in less favorable conditions to regain competitiveness on circuits where they have previously excelled.
