Fabio Quartararo says he is satisfied to have increased his overall MotoGP series lead to 47 following two rounds at a track “we were supposed to lose points.”
The Red Bull Ring has historically been a tough proving ground for the Yamaha M1, while Quartararo’s chief title rivals-all on Ducati machinery-were expected to inflict damage on the Frenchman’s 34-point advantage at a venue the Desmosedici had claimed wins at five of the six events contested.
Even though Jorge Martin managed to make it six from seven for the Italian marque in the Styrian Grand Prix last weekend, Quartararo managed to beat his three main rivals-Johann Zarco, Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller-with a run to third to extend his lead to 40 over Pramac racer Zarco.
Despite losing points to Austrian GP runner-up Bagnaia with a seventh placed result, the Frenchman still outscored Miller and Zarco to hold a stiff 47 point advantage with seven rounds remaining over Bagnaia and reigning MotoGP world champion Joan Mir, a net gain of 13 over the two contests.
Quartararo says it is a “nice feeling” to leave the Styrian mountains having extended his gap in the series standings, though admitted he “wasn’t thinking about the championship” prior to the rain arriving in the Austrian GP while battling Bagnaia and Marc Marquez for victory.
“I’m happy about my dry race, but even in the wet I can’t be unsatisfied because all weekend in the wet we were slow and in these two laps (since switching to wets) we weren’t too bad,” said Quartararo.
“I just did a mistake under braking at Turn 3 and unfortunately I missed the fifth position because of this, but overall it’s a nice feeling to leave Austria with a 47 point lead at a track where we were supposed to lose points.
“I’m happy because I was able to stay with Pecco (Bagnaia) and Marc (Marquez) throughout the race, which for us at this track is a good step forward.
“I wasn’t thinking about the championship until it was raining a lot, I started to have a few moments and then when I saw it was Marc going in (to pits) I realised it was the right moment to pit and everyone followed, so I realised it was time to think of the championship and we’ll see where we end up.
“Definitely from my side this was the correct decision.”
The seven-time premier class race winner says he “impressed himself” with his bold around-the-outside move at Turn 3 in which he passed both Martin and Marquez in one fell swoop, Quartararo labelling his pass as “one of the best overtakes of my career.”
“It was scary (double overtake at Turn 3) because I had Jorge (Martin) on the left and Marc on the right, and I had no more space so I thought I would just brake at my usual point, I felt like I was on the limit but I feel it was one of the best overtakes of my career,” continued Quartararo.
“I know they are both strong brakers so I impressed myself that I could pull it off.
“In normal conditions we should be there to fight for the victory (at Silverstone), that is my goal because that was a track that in 2019 we made a big step in terms of performance and it is one of my favourite tracks, and I think this race we should be competitive.”
