Monster Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo was battling for AustrianGP victory at Spielberg on Sunday before the rains arrived to spoil the Frenchman’s advance.

The title leader admitted Sunday was the first time he’s truly had the championship in his thoughts while traversing the Spielberg Circuit in the tricky conditions, when a near-tangle with Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez brought the reality firmly into focus.

Quartararo completed the second Austrian adventure in seventh - having gained six places in the final lap as his wet-bike set-up came into it’s own -to head the standings by a comfortable 47 points margin. Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia now equal on points to reigning world champ, Joan Mir, in second.

“It was the first time of this year that I was thinking a little bit about the championship,” Quartararo admitted on Sunday evening.

“To be honest, I had a lot of risk, and I didn’t want to make a stupid crash. I nearly had one, in turn one when Marc crashed. You can see on the TV that I almost go to touch him, was the moment to think a little bit about the championship.

“We arrived with a 34 points lead in this track, we leave with 47, so we take an advantage and I think that we never expect that. I think now our point is quite good on the championship so I want to keep going on that way.

“Was much better than last year for sure,” he continued, reflecting on the Spielberg races.

“Last year we were struggling with the brakes, struggling with the bike, struggling with the electronics, and this year we are struggling, just a little bit, on the top speed.

“But my feeling on pure riding was, for me, amazing and I think I learned many things today. Just the last laps were bad for us, but I’m happy about my dry race in Austria because we were able to, I think, in the dry condition to fight for the victory and that’s something incredible for us here.

“I can’t wait to be in the other tracks. Every time I go on the bike I feel like I need to improve, and be faster. I’m not just looking at the standings and trying to go slowly, to look at my rivals, so I think that this was important.”

With two weeks in the Styrian Mountains now complete, the MotoGP Championship heads to the UK, and a circuit that brings happy memories for the 22-year-old.

“I think we have the possibility to fight for the victory there, because I think on my rookie year, I had two big moments that change a little bit my career - was Jerez in 2019, and the weekend in Silverstone, when I was much faster than usual.

“Of course if it’s good condition, I can fight for a great result. Then I’m crossing the finger, I’m praying already for good weather, and I think that we can make great result.” Quartararo concluded.