Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo arrives in Austin motivated after a stunning end of race battle with MotoGP title rival Pecco Bagnaia last time out.
Four rounds stand between the Frenchman and the 2021 World Championship, and while 48 points is a strong lead, as this year has already shown, anything can happen in Grand Prix racing.
“Really happy to be back here,” Quartararo said of the Austin adventure ahead of him. “Is a track that I really like. Two years ago on my first MotoGP season, was quite good and I think since then we take a lot of experience, so for sure we will go much better.
"It's a track that I like and I think we can achieve a good goal. Of course, we know that the back straight will be something difficult for us, but I think the first sector and the last one will be important ones to recover.
“We start the race weekend with a 48-point advantage, and after this there are three more races, so my mentality stays the same as it was in Misano. Originally my goal was not to think about the championship until the San Marino GP, but I have decided to keep it going. I think that‘s the right thing for me: to be in the moment and fight for the victory if I can.
“In Misano that nearly gave my mum a heart attack and my dad for sure enjoyed it a lot,” he continued. “I‘ve had this idea already at the beginning of the year that ’no matter if I‘m fighting for the championship or not, I want to win‘. That was the case in Misano, and I want it to stay like this.
“Honestly, in Misano, behind Jack I had some moments but as soon as I overtake Jack, I saw Pecco in front and I say, ‘I need to give a try’. You know, second is okay for the championship and at the end is the position that we finish but is the race that I had more fun this year. Is a shame that we don't take that place at the end but the race was good, super fast and I want more of this.
“At the end, of course if I see that I'm on a tricky situation I will not push over my limit but if I can achieve something like Misano or a little bit better, I will go for it.”
