Fabio Quartararo says he was “two or three tenths” short of being able to challenge Marc Marquez and Miguel Oliveira for victory in the German Grand Prix.
The Yamaha rider looked there-or-thereabouts on speed at the Sachsenring throughout the event, never recording a time outside the top two throughout practice-having led the way in FP3- before qualifying second just 0.011 behind pole-man Johann Zarco.
He also led the way in warm-up for the 30-lap contest on Sunday morning, though by the time the race got underway he was unable to match the pedigree of the leading Honda and KTM machines, ultimately taking the chequered flag a solid third 6.7 seconds down on winner Marquez.
Quartararo insisted he was satisfied to secure an “amazing” third place result, the Frenchman explaining that his main target was to finish ahead of Ducati’s lead riders with whom he is currently battling for the leadership in the points standings, a goal he managed to achieve as he extended his advantage to 22 after closest rival Zarco struggled to eighth.
“It was a tough race, we struggled a lot all weekend, this morning we saw the pace was quite good but not enough for the victory,” said Quartararo.
“Miguel (Oliveira) and Marc (Marquez) were just faster than us, not a lot only two or three tenths but in the race I made a bad start, mainly the first corner which let the other get away but I was only two or three tenths slower than them.
“We said this morning that the main goal was to finish in front of the Ducati’s and maybe finish on the podium and that is what we did, so I’m very happy to get the podium.
“I think one-and-a-half tenths was on Turn 7, our bike just wouldn’t turn in that corner and this morning I was clear with the team that if we could fight for something there it would be tough, and everytime I was behind another rider at this corner I would lose one or two tenths all the time, so that was a weak point for us.
“Apart from that the bike was OK, but this track is very different (from previous circuits) and I didn’t feel great, all the race I was not feeling good and I finished third which is amazing.”
The six-time premier class race winner was full of praise for race winner Marquez after the Honda man stormed to a first win since the 2019 season finale at Valencia haing undergone an extensive recovery programme as a result of breaking his right arm in a fearsome Jerez crash at the start of the ’20 campaign, an injury that forced him to miss the rest of that term.
Quartararo remarked that Marquez is from “another planet” having been able to win in only his sixth start since returning to competition at Portimao in April.
“Marc (Marquez) is from another planet. He is for me one of the best in history because when you miss a year of racing with different operations, it’s amazing what he’s achieved.
“He was in front and Miguel (Oliveira) was chasing him but he won, so massive congratulations to him.
“I was in the mood that I needed to send it (when rain started to fall), it wasn’t easy to overtake at this track like Le Mans, I was behind riders and wanted to overtake but Marc was so fast so at that moment I knew it was the moment to push and get in front of the guys in front.
“It was impossible to overtake and there were only two laps with rain, so unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to pass anyone.”
