Fabio Quartararo explains crash in French MotoGP sprint: “I cannot overtake, this is the problem”
One of the two home favourites at Le Mans, Quartararo had already endured a sub-par qu💦alifying meaning he started the sprint in 13th, before slipping three positions further back on the first lap.
The 2021 wo𝄹rld champion admirably battled back and was within the points when he fell and slid out of the ra𝕴ce.
“I alwaﷺys complain about the front tyre. The feeling that I cannot ride behind a rider,” he♓ explained.
“As soon as I overtook, I 💝wanted to push but the feeling was not good in the front.
“I said: ‘I’m going to try, maybe the🌌re♛ is another limit’.
“But as soon as I tried, I crashed.
“So I’m at the limit in every moment.”
Quartararo reacted to his race꧋ as a whole: “We checked the start, it was not so bad.
“But in second, third and fourth gear✱ we have engine limits.
“Arriving into the first corner I was a litꦜtle bit behind.
“The decision on the second corner was not a good one, 🀅on the inside.
“The pace was not bad. But, for me to overtaꦿke is super-difficult on that track.
“I t🍃ꦡook the opportunity as the two Aprilias and Marc Marquez made a little bit of a mess in Turn 8 and 9.
“But, as soon as I’m behind, I cannot overtake. This is the problem𓂃.
“We have to work hard to find a solution.”
Quartararo, and his fell😼ow Frenchman Johann Zarco, will benefit from a bumper crowd on Sunday which could hitꦉ 100,000 people.
“I’m really happy. It’s easier to cheer someone that wins,” ♐Quartararo said.
“Right now,🐼 I’m having a tough time but they still support me. I am♍ grateful.”
He is left stranded in 11th in the MotoGP standings🦋, 54 points behind championship-leader Francesco Bagnaia.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports forꦛ a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
