MotoGP Styrian GP
Quartararo “couldn’t do better” than third in Styrian MotoGP
Yamaha's MotoGP points leader Fabio Quartararo admits he “couldn’t do better” than third place in last Sunday’s Styrian Grand Prix.
Lewis Duncan
Edited: Aug 10, 2021, 8:36 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Red Bull Ring is arguably Yamaha’s weakest circuit on the entire calendar, with its long straights and hard acceleration zones at odds with the M1’s lack of power.
Suffering a disastrous Austria double-header in 2020, Quartararo was strong throughout last weekend’s Styrian GP, qualifying third (having had a record pole lap cancelled for exceeding track limits) and going on to finish third in the race.
Battling with Ducati’s Jack Miller in the first half of the race, Quartararo came under pressure in the latter stages, but a crash for the Australian gave the Yamaha rider a comfortable run to the podium to extend his championship lead to 40 points.
“Yeah, was tough because when I was behind Jack he made a small mistake in Turn 1 and it was the only way for me to stay behind him in the straight,” Quartararo said.
“And I knew in Turn 3 I was struggling a lot all weekend, but today and yesterday I was pretty strong and in the first race [before the red flag] I could overtake Marc [Marquez].
“Then I overtook Jack, we had a little bit of a nice fight.
“We lose a little bit compared to the two front guys, but I couldn’t do better.
“I couldn’t stay with Joan, I couldn’t stay with Jorge.
“So, really pleased for this podium and we know in which area we need to work on. So, pretty happy and I think we have made a great job.”
Looking ahead to this weekend’s Austrian GP at the same venue, Quartararo says Yamaha has to improve its rear tyre performance having struggled last Sunday.
“In the first race behind Jorge [Martin] I was there behind and in the last corner I was carrying so much speed.
“I was looking at him and I was like ‘ah, he’s saving a lot the tyre’, and as soon as he picked up the bike he was pulling a lot.
“So, we will try to manage the best way as possible. We know we don’t have the same potential as Ducati’s on acceleration, but I mean for us a podium here was perfect.
“So, I think our pace in the practice is always very good but when the race arrives we don’t feel the same with the rear tyre.
“I think knowing that for next week is going to be important.”
Yamaha team-mate Maverick Vinales finished the race in pitlane after electronics problems meant he was being shown ‘pitlane’ messages on his dashboard.
Having made a strong start to the race before it was red-flagged for the fiery incident between Dani Pedrosa and Lorenzo Savadori, Vinales stalled on the grid for the second start and had to launch from pitlane.
“Well, honestly I’m quite happy in one way because the first race, the first five laps has been fantastic honestly, I was quite happy,” he said.
“I think it’s the first time I jumped two rows. So, it was good.
“For that I’m happy. But then we go to the box, they change the tyres, changed the clutch and everything was different.
“The bike stopped, I don’t know why. I just released the clutch the bike stopped, it’s very strange. I did exactly the same as the first race.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article The Suzuki upgrade that made Mir’s Styria victory bid possible
Next article Aprilia’s Savadori has surgery after fiery Styrian MotoGP crash
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lewis Duncan
MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed
MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed
A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?
MotoGP
MotoGP
German GP
A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?
What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?
MotoGP
MotoGP
German GP
What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?
More from
Fabio Quartararo
MotoGP riders oppose fines for missing fan events
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
MotoGP riders oppose fines for missing fan events
Fabio Quartararo forced to leave Monster as Red Bull returns to Honda
MotoGP
MotoGP
Fabio Quartararo forced to leave Monster as Red Bull returns to Honda
Fabio Quartararo: MotoGP should have the same number of sprints as F1
MotoGP
MotoGP
Fabio Quartararo: MotoGP should have the same number of sprints as F1
Latest news
Manthey acknowledges IMSA to be "tougher than expected" despite two wins
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 3 h
Manthey acknowledges IMSA to be "tougher than expected" despite two wins
How a philosophy shift brought BMW to new heights in 2026
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 3 h
How a philosophy shift brought BMW to new heights in 2026
Fred Vasseur reveals two costly moments that denied Ferrari US GP double podium
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
3 h
Fred Vasseur reveals two costly moments that denied Ferrari US GP double podium
Cleetus McFarland set to compete full-time for 2027 ARCA championship
ARCA
ARCA ARCA 5 h
Cleetus McFarland set to compete full-time for 2027 ARCA championship
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe