Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo believes “it was really important” to get a strong MotoGP qualifying this weekend after struggling at Spielberg ahead of the StyrianGP.

Despite having his record-breaking pole-effort deleted due to track limit infringements at turn eight, the Frenchman’s second best time, a 1’23.075, was enough to secure his place on the front row, in third.

After multiple moments in the first sector, three Ducati’s in the top-four and the possibility of Sunday’s forecast potentially throwing a curve ball, Quartararo was pleased with his leading pace and improvements made across the weekend so far.

“Yesterday, I was struggling a lot to stop the bike, this morning the same,” Quartararo admitted from the Austrian paddock.

“Turn three was really critical. I had some moments in turn two, always like small locking. In FP4, is not the first time that we always make the step forward. When we made the step on the last time-attack this morning, was much better, better feeling, and in FP4 I could make really good lap-times on a new medium - I tried a rear hard but was not that great.

“The consumption of the tyre here is quite a lot for everyone, so I think the pace that we did today, even if it’s dry tomorrow, it will be much slower but I’m happy about the result and even if it was track limits, it was nice to see ‘22 on the dashboard.”

An ominous cloud hangs over Sunday’s 28-lap race, with multiple forecasts predicting a range of weather conditions, and even the potential of a Monday race being tentatively considered. So has the threat of rain been playing on the Frenchman’s mind?

“Not on my mind but just if it’s dry, it’s way better for me but if it rains, it’s difficult for everyone. I’m struggling more but we are here to work and try to find the best position as possible. I will not kill myself, just try to manage the best position as possible. We made the job in the previous races. We had the great feeling when was raining a lot. So, if it rains, I hope it will be raining a lot.

“Considering the weather, I think the best plan is having no plan. You can say, if it’s dry, we do this, and if it’s wet, we can try that but every time you make the first corner, the plan is totally changing so just choose the correct tyres and enjoy the race. So is no plan.

“The track is the same for everyone. Normally when you feel more on the limit is where you make a little bit more mistake. I did it in qualifying but we need to be careful on the race because it’s a lot of laps. I think is a track that you can be on the green more often so like I said before, if it’s dry, I think the pace will be a little bit slower, and if it’s raining I think nobody will really go on the green.

“For me, it really depends on turn two. I think that’s the danger because even yesterday was not so wet. I think many of us have had some moments. To be honest I prefer heavy rain but not a lot but really it depends on turn two. I have not the problem of Jorge [Martin, who is travelling home on Sunday evening], I’m staying here in Austria so if it’s on Monday, is not a problem,” he concluded.