Fabio Quartararo expressed strong disappointment following his performance in the MotoGP Sprint race in Indonesia, describing the event as having “nothing positive” for him. The French rider crashed on the second-to-last lap of the 13-lap contest at Mandalika, after being out-qualified by teammate Alex Rins for the first time at Monster Energy Yamaha.
Quartararo was running in 12th place when he lost control at turn two, an incident that ended his race prematurely. Earlier, Rins had his own race compromised due to a risky move from Marc Marquez, adding to the challenging weekend for the Yamaha team. Quartararo’s struggles throughout the sprint are highlighted by his difficulty in adapting to the bike and tyres, which left him frustrated and without improvement compared to previous sessions.
Quartararo’s Struggles and Crash During Sprint Race
The start of the MotoGP Sprint was problematic for Quartararo, who admitted to a clutch slip and contact with Enea Bastianini that pushed him to the back of the pack early on. Trying to recover ground after a poor start, he admitted feeling unsettled on his bike throughout the race weekend, stating,
“Nothing learned and nothing positive at the moment.”
He described the bike as “quite unpredictable with the tyres,” which complicated his ability to find a comfortable setup. Even after attempts to improve, Quartararo said,
“For me, it’s the same [as Friday],”
indicating no progress had been made since the start of the weekend. His lack of confidence with the bike’s handling severely hampered his performance in the Sprint, leading to the eventual crash.
Tyre Choice Issues Ahead of Sunday’s Race
Quartararo’s ongoing difficulties have also influenced his tyre strategy moving forward. With limited ability to warm up the medium rear tyre, he ruled out that option for Sunday’s race. Instead, Quartararo plans to use the soft rear tyre, hoping this choice will yield a better result despite the challenges faced so far. He told reporters,
“I will not go with the medium [compound rear tyre]. For us, warming it up is impossible, so I will go with the soft tomorrow that I think is the choice that I have to do to try something and hopefully we can make a better race.”
Marco Bezzecchi’s Dominance Contrasts Quartararo’s Woes
While Quartararo battled with his equipment, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi emerged as the standout performer in Indonesia. The Italian rider secured pole position by setting a new lap record in qualifying and managed to win the Sprint race despite a challenging start that left him in eighth place after the first lap.
Quartararo expressed some confusion over the gap between himself and Bezzecchi’s pace, highlighting the Italian’s exceptional skill and speed.
“We saw Bezzecchi make the lap record, he’s super-fast,”
Quartararo remarked.
“We see how quick he leans and how fast he’s going, so it’s quite complicated to understand. But at least in our case I’ve never been great with any of the tyres, so this is the most difficult thing to understand.”
The difference in performance underlines the varied challenges riders face in adapting to changing track and tyre conditions during the MotoGP Sprint format.
Outlook for the Upcoming Indonesian Grand Prix
Quartararo’s despondency over the Sprint race reflects broader concerns about his consistency and equipment reliability this season. With Sunday’s main event looming, his tyre selection and adjustment to bike behavior will be critical in securing a stronger finish. Meanwhile, Bezzecchi’s form signals a growing threat from Aprilia in the competitive field.
The Sunday race at Mandalika promises intense battles as riders strive to adapt and improve after the Sprint, and Quartararo’s decisions concerning tyre strategy will be closely watched given the challenges he has faced. His ability to recover will likely have significant implications for his standing in the championship and Monster Energy Yamaha’s momentum in this crucial phase of the season.
