Petronas SRT rider Fabio Quartararo has described the moment he both won Catalan GP and regained control of the championship, declaring it was “the best of my life.”
The 21-year-old fended off the Suzukis of Joan Mir and Alex Rins having started from second on the grid, with victory putting the Frenchman ahead of Andrea Dovizioso in the riders’ standings after the Ducati man crashed out the race.
Speaking of his victory after the race, Quartararo said: “It was better than both Jerez races because when you arrive in a good moment, you know that you’re going to do well.”
Quartararo, however, had previously shown signs of struggling during earlier in the season.
“You have five races in a row where you are doing not so great,” said Quartararo.
“But the victory (at the Catalan GP) is amazing, and there was a lot of emotion.
Quartararo was also thankful for the support of his family during the race, especially his brother who watched him throughout the event.
“I was thinking of my family that was watching me and I talked to my brother just before the start because I came back to my office and he sent me a message.”
When asked whether Zarco and Miller were a concern at the start of the race, Quartararo, said: “Yes, I was a little bit worried, but in the end Jack made a small mistake and I nearly lost the front but I said: ‘I need to overtake him’.”
“I was scared he would overtake me on the straight but I’m really happy that we made a really great finish and it was the correct moment to overtake him Vale and Franco.”
After discovering that Valentino Rossi was out of the race, Fabio admitted that he could not relax as team-mate Morbidelli continued the chase, all the while as his soft compound tyres were deteriorating quickly.
“When I saw Franco, Franco, Franco, Franco (on pit-board), I knew he was not going to stop,” added Quartararo.
“Then after five or six laps, I saw Mir was coming and unfortunately, I couldn’t do anything because my rear tyre was totally destroyed and I was pushing at my maximum. I knew I only had one more lap and I would finish second.”
Despite the tyre trouble, Quartararo is pleased with his effort.
He said: “I’m so happy to be in first position and to be back on the podium.”
