MotoGP Thailand: Fabio Quartararo outlines potential after strong practice: “We can fight for the podium”

Fabio Quartararo believes he can challenge for a podium if he qualifies well at this weekend’s Thailand MotoGP.
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha MotoGP Buriram 2023
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha MotoGP Buriram 2023

Quartararo was 12th in Practice 1 before climbing up to eighth when it came to cruꦑnch time during the afternoo💖n. 

“The paꦜce was good,” said the Frenchman. “As soon as we have a casing that is a little bit different from the normal [one] we can enjoy it a little bit more. For us it is the same but the others can’t use all the power.”

Quartararo was one of the more spectacular riders to watch on day-one in Buriram, especially🐼 when it came to braking for the final corner.

Whet🃏her it was lifting t⛄he rear tyre or having front-end snaps, Quartararo managed to produce impressive lap times.

Quartararo 👍said: “It was ♒crazy. You just brake, release, open the throttle quite aggressively to slide, but you have to pick up [the bike] and use the device, then apply the rear brake with your thumb. 

“So you have to do many𓆉 things. You really fight but you enjoy everything.”

After finishing on the podium in Mandalika, Qu💧artararo had a disastrous weekend in Australia. 

But after seeing his performance in Thailand, the 2021 world champion is confiden🍸t of being in the hunt aga🅰in this weekend.

Speaking about if he can challenge for the podium, Quartararo said: “Yes! It al๊so depends on the weather but if we make a great qualifying we can fight for the top five and even the podium.”

Quartararo making all his time up under braking

With Thailand possessing two long straights, one coming o♋﷽ut of turn one and the other on the exit of turn three, Quartararo is having to find different ways of being faster than his competitors due to the lack of top speed with his Yamaha. 

“Under braking,” said Quartararo when asked where he’s finding time. “Corner one, 12, three, turn four - I don’t know how I’m doing it but I’m 💯carrying a lot ♍of speed. 

“It’s something I try to forget. It is o𝓡ut of my head and I’m just focused on making the best lap time possible.”

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