Fabio Quartararo after Le Mans heartbreak: “First time I am happy after I crashed”
Fabio Quartararo, the French Yamaha rider, was surprised when he declared that he had never been so happy after an accident in a MotoGP race. This special feeling came after the Le Mans Grand Prix, where, despite the accident, Quartararo saw significant improvements in the performance of his bike, the M1, which allowed him to compete in the top six for the first time this season.
Quartararo, spurred on by his home fans, produced a remarkable performance before his collapse. “I think this is the first time I’ve been so happy after a race where I crashed,” Quartararo said after the Grand Prix. “It’s because this was the first time this year that we were actually in the top six and that we were fighting. I was fighting well. I was fighting with Aleix [Espargaro].”
Quartararo’s enthusiasm was not only a reaction to the support of his fans but also a response to the improvements made to his bike. “I saw some great riders in front of me, and I think I was a bit motivated for the pace we had, but unfortunately I crashed,” he explained. “I’m quite happy with the way the race went, apart from the mistake we made at the end. But I still think we can be happy with our race. Seeing the fans who always support me, we had to give everything we had.”
Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha team principal, shared Quartararo’s positive opinion, despite his disappointment at the crash. “We are very disappointed for Fabio,” Meregali began. “We know he really wanted to get a good result at his home GP and in front of the fans, who were incredibly supportive.”
Meregalli highlighted Quartararo’s effort and determination, crediting the changes made to the bike that allowed the French rider to keep pace with the leaders. “This morning we made some changes to his bike, which turned out to be working really well. He was keeping pace with the riders, so that’s positive and constructive ahead of a very busy three weeks.”
The Le Mans performance represented a turning point for Quartararo and Yamaha. Despite the crash, the race showed that the team is making significant progress, raising optimism for future races. Quartararo, who has struggled this season so far, finally saw a glimpse of competition and potential in his gear.
“I’m quite happy with the way the race went, except for the mistake we made at the end. But I still think we can be happy with our race. Seeing that the fans always support me, we had to give everything we had,” he said. Quartararo.
Quartararo’s positive attitude and improvements to the Yamaha M1 are promising signs that the French rider and his team are well on their way back to the top of the competition. With the continued support of their fans and the team’s dedication, there is hope for better results to come.
