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Fabio Quartararo Shifts Focus to Riding Amidst Yamaha’s Struggles

Yamaha’s factory MotoGP rider Fabio Quartararo has declared that he is stepping away from adjustments to his bike’s setup, emphasizing the importance of leveraging his riding skills to navigate the challenges presented by the M1 this season.

The initial phase of the MotoGP season has proven challenging for the Yamaha team, as their performance during pre-season testing did not translate into on-track success. Quartararo’s best result to date has been a sixth-place finish in the sprint race at the Americas Grand Prix, a stark contrast to the expectations set prior to the season.

Compounding Quartararo’s frustration is the success of independent rider Jack Miller from the Pramac team, who has outperformed the 2021 world champion in all three races held thus far. Miller’s fifth-place finish at the Americas GP marks the highest position secured by Yamaha this year, placing additional pressure on Quartararo to produce results.

As the Qatar Grand Prix approaches, Quartararo is adamant about his decision to stop the cycle of continuous adjustments. “We’ve made over twenty changes to the bike’s setup, and it’s clear that further tweaks are unlikely to yield the performance we seek,” Quartararo stated. He acknowledged that early-season experimentation has run its course, and now it is crucial to maximize his riding to extract the best performance from the M1.

Reflecting on the situation, Quartararo said, “I believe it’s essential to establish a base setup and adapt my riding accordingly. If an effective strategy emerges, we can reconsider it, but the constant experimentation has not been fruitful.” He emphasized that he wants to concentrate on pushing his own limits, citing the lack of clarity each time the bike’s setup changes.

Quartararo recalled his successful victory at the Doha GP in Qatar during the previous season, indicating his capability on the track. He intends to maintain the same setup throughout the Free Practice sessions and into the race, suggesting that only minimal adjustments would be warranted if necessary.

This season, Quartararo has exhibited a solid performance record, further validating his beliefs about the untapped potential within his current riding approach. His only mishap so far has been a crash during the wet sighting lap at the Americas GP, emphasizing his overall consistency on the track.

Upcoming Challenges

As he faces the upcoming races, Quartararo understands that enhancing his riding techniques, rather than altering the bike, may be the key to achieving better results. The support of his team, alongside his commitment to adapt and perform, will be crucial as the MotoGP season progresses.

Source
www.motorsport.com