Fabio Quartararo’s title defence took a battering on Sunday as the Monster Energy Yamaha struggled throughout the Qatar Grand Prix.
The 2021 MotoGP Champion failed to run higher than eighth throughout the 22-lap race at Lusail International Circuit, meeting the flag tenth after a difficult weekend across the board.
Saturday saw the Frenchman fight for his place in the pole shootout from Q1, having concluded free practice 11th in the combined times. His countryman Johann Zarco nearly prevented the M1 from making top 12 at all, with Quartararo lining up alongside his factory teammate Franky Morbidelli, in 11th and 12th as the lights prepared.
Tyres were the issue for the 22-year-old in the race, but more pressure than choice, unlike the Repsol Hondas of Pol Espargaro and Marc Marquez.
“I made a great start and then from the second lap we had already tyre pressure that goes super high, and then we just dropped and basically I have no idea,” Quartararo attempted to explain from the Doha paddock on Sunday evening. “I push my maximum but then our tyre drops and to be honest I don't know.
"I expect a little bit more pace but right now the thing is, we couldn't do better and that's the problem.
"The team calculate, you know, normally we have numbers that's safe let's say. When we are in the slip stream, the tyre’s going up from these numbers and right now from the second lap, we were already much too high than expected. Then until Pecco [Bagnaia] and [Jorge] Martin crash in front of me, that I was still not even really on the slipstream. I was still I think around maybe not one second but close. My front tyre was a disaster. Not basically the tyre but the pressure was too high and we need to understand why.
“Knowing that last year we won both races and now we finish basically behind, quite far back. Of course, I'm worried,” the reigning champion continued. “I will not say I need confidence. We make fourth row, going into Q1. So I will say I cannot be super confident but I always say I'm not an engineer. What my job is, is to be 100 per cent prepared and focus for every race and I give my 100 per cent in every condition - if I'm fighting for the victory, P3, P5, P9, P16. I give my 100 per cent so that is something true, that I will give my best whatever the position.”
While Yamaha’s struggles are a concern, the impressive pace and progress of the rest of the grid is adding to the pressure.
“I don't think is unpredictable,” Quartararo said of the season opener’s results and the steps made by HRC, KTM, Suzuki and Aprilia. “They make an amazing job. So I don't think is unpredictable. I think it's predictable because they make a great job during the winter and I think it's just the result of the hard work.”
With contracts on the table for the majority of the premier class, Yamaha could have a fight on its hands to keep the current champion, if guarantees for more aren’t forthcoming.
“My priority is to win,” he confirmed. “This is my priority. Nothing more. My priority is to be sure to have the best bike. So of course, for the future is really important, is the most important thing.”
