Fabio Quartararo revealed following the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez that an issue with arm pump in his right appendage was the reason victory slipped from his grasp.
Quartararo recovered well from an average start-where he dropped to fourth after starting from pole-to grab back the lead just four laps later, opening up an advantage of just over a second on Jack Miller, the Frenchman happy to manage things out in front.
The Yamaha pilot looked odds on to record his third straight MotoGP win and the Japanese manufacturer’s fourth successive success right up until he mysteriously lost pace 14 tours into the 25 lap encounter, Quartararo plunging through the field as a result and ultimately bagging just three points for 13th.
The Frenchman explained post-race that he began to suffer with arm pump in his right arm at around mid-distance, leaving him with very little “power” with which to wrestle his M1 around the Jerez venue, adding that he felt he could even have gone quicker relative to eventual contest-winner Miller prior to his arm issue.
“I just had arm pump in my right arm, up until around lap ten I think I could hold Jack (Miller) at around a second with completely normal feeling and we were in position to win, I could even have gone a bit faster,” said Quartararo.
“Our advantage with the used tyre was not necessary because we didn’t have the power (arm strength) because of the arm pump, so this is what happened.”
Quartararo added that he is currently a “bit lost” about what to do about his arm ahead of his home event at Le Mans in France in two weeks time, but affirmed his ambition to solve his ailment “as soon as possible.”
“Qatar was a different thing, right now I have no idea what to do (about arm) and I’m a bit lost but I will take my time today to think it over well and try to make the best decision,” continued the five-time MotoGP race victor.
“My home grand prix is coming so I want to be fit there, it’s very important to me and I know the bike is going to work well there and that I can perform so I want to resolve the problem with my arm as soon as possible.”
Quartararo lost the riders points lead following his slide to 13th in the Spanish GP, with runner-up Francesco Bagnaia taking over at the head of the standings by just two points over Quartararo ahead of the French GP.
