Fabio Quartararo says he was “fully on the limit” while trying to catch a fading Francesco Bagnaia in the latter stages of the San Marino Grand Prix.
The Yamaha rider managed to survive early battles with Bagnaia’s fellow Ducati riders Jack Miller and Jorge Martin at Misano to establish himself in third, though began to play himself into the victory conversation as the soft compound rear tyres fitted to the two leading Desmosedici’s began to suffer.
Quartararo-who opted for the harder medium compound rear rubber-dispatched Miller for second before carving through Bagnaia’s near three-second advantage, though he ultimately ran out of time to perform a sustained attack for the leadership as he took the chequered flag just 0.364s adrift of his nearest championship challenger.
The series leader-who saw his points gap narrowed slightly to 48 from 53 thanks to Bagnaia’s victory- says he was “fully on the limit” trying to catch the ailing Ducati, admitting he had “three or four moments where I was close to beiong on the ground” as he chased the Italian.
“I think this is my best, of course the victory is totally different but I think this is the first time that I’m so happy for a second place,” explained Quartararo following the San Marino GP.
“Not because of the championship but because I gave everything, also because in the beginning with Jack (Miller) and (Jorge) Martin I was fighting with them like it was the last lap and I overtook Jack in a place I never expected to pass someone.
“Today to be honest I had three or four moments where I was close to being on the ground, one moment where Jack went wide I followed him and fully lost the front which allowed Pecco to have a big advantage.
“I was fully on the limit trying to follow Pecco at Turns 2, 3 and also 13 but this is why I enjoyed it and everytime I was catching the team were telling me I was closing a little bit which motivated me but to catch him was one thing and to pass him was another.”
Quartararo added that he elected to settle for second half-way around the last tour after realising the level of commitment Bagnaia was willing to put in to score his second successive win, accepting he was “too far” behind to attack in his favoured overtaking spot.
“On the last lap I was a bit too far behind because Pecco (Bagnaia) was stronger through Turns 4 and 5 compared to Jack and I wanted to overtake at Turn 6, but I was too far,” continued Quartararo.
“I also had quite a lot of (rear tyre) spin and then sector three it was like he was on a time attack, the lean angle he had at Turn 12 made me think ‘OK, time to keep calm’, but it was a really nice race and one that I enjoyed the most.”
