Fabio Quartararo opts for surgery after suffering arm-pump troubles during Sunday’s MotoGP in Jerez.
The Frenchman went from leading the race to finishing 13th place after severe arm-pump problems hit him at mid-race.
With his home race at French GP is coming up next, the factory Yamaha rider could not afford to waste time.
Despite no official details from the factory team, it is understood that Quartararo underwent the same surgery due to similar problems he suffered in 2019 while with Petronas SRT.
The rider also shared his excitement to return to the track ahead of the French GP scheduled next week.
According to reports, Quartararo undergoes a standard surgery by cutting the membrane around the muscle to allow more blood flow instead of completely removing the membrane, which is a more thorough procedure.
Sundays’ result saw Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia now leading the championship with 66 points, just 2pts ahead of Fabio Quartararo while another Yamaha rider, Maverick Vinales 3rd place with 50pts.
Fabio Quartararo shed some light on his decision to throw in the towel despite leading the first half of the race at the Spanish GP.
The factory Yamaha rider led the race ahead of Ducati’s Jack Miller before slowing down and losing his grip in the front row.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for the 21-year-old Frenchman, who was brilliant at the early stage of the race, cruising his way ahead before succumbing to 13th place due to physical problems.
“I had a big issue with the arm. I suffered for six laps with pain, then I couldn’t do any more.
“I’m so sad for what happened because I was feeling really easy in front, I was P4, and I could overtake them.
“I was comfortable with the pace. We had an amazing pace this weekend and just had no more power in the arm,” he explained.
The arm-pump problem was not new for the rider, as Quartararo had to undergo surgery in 2019 when he was still with Petronas Sepang Racing Team.
“It was dangerous for me to ride for half a race, but I didn’t want to stop because I knew that maybe one or two points can be really important for the championship.
“I gave it all, and unfortunately, I had this issue,” said Quartararo.
Fabio Quartararo recorded his second pole position of the season after setting the fastest time in Jerez ahead of former teammate Franco Morbidelli.
The 21-year-old continued his quest for his third win of the season after dominating the last two race in Qatar and Portimao.
Now leading the championship with 61 points, Quartararo set the best lap of the weekend with 1 minute 36.755s improving his already impressive 1m 36.8s earlier in Q2.
It was an exciting battle for pole as Quartararo had to battle it out with Morbidelli, who advanced from Q1.
Ducati’s Jack Miller complete the front row after edging out teammate Francesco Bagnaia.
This is the Australian first front-row start of the season in an effort to grab his first podium after three rounds despite showing amazing speed during the pre-season test.
Takaaki Nakagami was the surprise package this weekend after clinching P5, making him the fastest Honda rider on the RC213V ahead of Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez, who will start at P13 and P14, respectively.
MotoGP: Quartarao Wins In Portimao, Claim Championship Lead!
Fabio Quartararo grabs his second win of the 2021 MotoGP season with a spectacular ride on Sunday in Portimao.
The Yamaha factory rider now leads the championship standings after Johann Zarco crashed out at Turn 10, ending his chance of adding the 40 pts he claimed after two races in Qatar.
Despite starting from pole, Quartararo had to fight his way up from sixth place after losing his spot after Turn 1.
However, after just three laps, he was back in contention, piling the pressure on Suzuki’s Alex Rins and Pramac’s Zarco.
The 21-year old managed to overtake his opponents and lead the pack, with only Rins able to chase him down.
However, heading into the final five laps, Rins lost his front grip at Turn 4 and immediately crashed out of the race, giving Quartararo a comfortable win.
Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia bagged his second podium of the season as he finished runner-up, followed by defending champion Suzuki’s Joan Mir.
Speaking to the press after the race, Quartararo admitted he feels confident with the YZR-M1 pace.
“I knew that we had a little bit extra pace compared to Alex [Rins]. He was running so fast but he made a mistake.
“But honestly, the pace that we set today was unexpected from myself, but it feels great to enjoy this track, this unique track,” he said.
Apart from an improved Factory-spec, Quartararo admitted he is mentally stronger than last season.
“Yamaha made a big step compared to last year. But for me mentally I feel stronger.
“Last year after Aragon we more or less lost the opportunity to fight until the end with Joan [Mir] for the championship. I was even more frustrated that we lost that moment.
“But I’ve learned a lot. When the bike was not going so great, I was always thinking negatively, but I totally changed this, and now I’m always thinking positively, which I think is great,” added the 21-year-old.
Fabio Quartararo secured his first win of 2021 after overcoming ninth place at the Losail International Circuit.
The Frenchman showed a similar performance to that of his team-mate, Maverick Vinales, who won the opening round last weekend.
The former Petronas Sepang Racing Team (SRT) rider crosses the finish line ahead of fellow countrymen and Pramac (Ducati) Racing rider Johann Zarco.
Meanwhile, MotoGP rookie Jorge Martin, leading the pack until the final stage of the race, clinched his maiden premier class podium at 3rd.
“I feel like this win gives me much more confidence than the wins from last year as I came from far back.
“In the test, it was difficult and I say woah, because the Ducati are fast in the straight and in the pace and it would be difficult to beat them.
The 21-year-old rider admitted that he was worried when Ducati dominated the qualifying session on both weekends with incredible speed.
However, Quartararo managed to play the YZR-M1 strengths, coming into every turn faster than their rivals.
“Felt so good with the bike. Also turn 8, 9,10 and 15, so it is good that we have great confidence on the front, because all the other riders are riding so fast but sometimes you make an overtake and you don’t know what is going to happen later.
“You know, you feel the front moving, but that’s something we didn’t have last year. I was just going into the corner with no feeling and then just losing the front.
“But with this bike, I felt like I have a little bit more confidence on the front and I feel much more the limit. In the end, this is what I need to go fast. We have it now in Qatar and I’m crossing the finger to have it in all the races,” he added.
MotoGP will resume on April 18 at Portimao, Portugal, a brand new track that hosted the final round of last season MotoGP.
Selepas sembilan pusingan musim ini, masih belum ada pelumba yang mampu memaparkan aksi konsisten dalam kelas premier setakat ini.
Fabio Quartararo, Brad Binder, Andrea Dovizioso, Miguel Oliveira, Franco Morbidelli dan terbaru Danilo Petrucci muncul pelumba ketujuh yang merekodkan kemenangan.
*Fabio Quartararo dan Franco Morbidelli @ Petronas SRT
Meskipun Quartararo berjaya mencipta tiga kemenangan semasa di GP Sepanyol, GP Andalucia dan GP Catalunya, pelumba Perancis itu gagal meneruskan momentum minggu lalu di litar Le Mans apabila sekadar menamatkan aksi di kedudukan ke-9.
Senario litar basah menyaksikan pelumba Perancis itu bergelut di laman sendiri.
*Fabio Quartararo beraksi dalam litar basah di Le Mans @ Petronas SRT
Walaupun masih mendahului carta kejuaraan namun dia hanya dipisahkan 10 mata dengan pelumba Suzuki Ecstar, Joan Mir.
Apa yang pasti, musim 2020 bakal menyaksikan nama baharu diukir selaku juara selepas Marc Marquez dominasi empat musim berturut-turut sebelum itu.
Marc Marquez hampir pasti tidak berupaya mempertahankan kejuaraan musim ini setelah mengalami kecederaan lengan serius akibat kemalangan ketika di Jerez dan lebih parah apabila cuba kembali selepas itu.
*Marc Marquez kemalangan di Jerez
Namun, tidak dinafikan musim 2020 mungkin menjadi kejuaraan MotoGP ke-7 Marquez atas beberapa faktor.
Konsistensi
Aksi konsisten merupakan elemen penting yang membezakan Marquez dengan pelumba lain di litar, jadi tidak hairanlah pelumba Sepanyol itu menamatkan musim 2019 dengan 420 mata, 151 mata dihadapan pencabar, Dovizioso (selepas 19 pusingan).
*Marc Marquez diumum juara dunia MotoGP buat kali ke-6
Quartararo setakat ini mengutip 115 mata, 5 mata dihadapan Mir selepas sembilan pusingan.
Manakala Marquez telah pun mengutip 185 mata (selepas sembilan pusingan pertama musim 2019) meskipun gagal menamatkan aksi sewaktu pusingan ketiga di GP Amerika.
*Petrucci muncul pemenang ke-7 musim 2020s sewaktu di Le Mans
Ketika musim 2020 menyaksikan tujuh pemenang baharu dengan 15 pelumba naik podium selepas sembilan pusingan, Marquez merekodkan lima kemenangan dan tiga tempat kedua selepas pusingan sama tahun lalu.
Ketahanan enjin
Setiap pasukan MotoGP tanpa konsesi – Yamaha, Honda, Ducati dan Suzuki – dibenarkan untuk menggunakan lima enjin bagi setiap pelumba dalam tempoh 13-pusingan musim ini.
*Jentera YZF-M1 Valentino Rossi alami masalah teknikal di Andalucia
Namun, pelumba Petronas SRT, Quartararo dan Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha) telah pun menggunakan empat enjin setakat ini.
Morbidelli turut mengalami masalah samala, kehilangan kuasa secara tiba-tiba sewaktu di Andalucia sementara Vinales lebih malang, dengan kesemua enjin telah pun digunakan.
Vinales turut mengalami masalah brek sehingga dia terpaksa melompat dari jenteranya ketika di GP Styrian.
Situasi ini turut memaksa Yamaha menghantar dua enjin kembali ke Jepun Julai lalu untuk dianalisis.
Menurut peraturan, pelumba yang menggunakan lebih daripada lima enjin dalam satu musim perlu memulakan perlumbaan di pit, lima saat selepas lampu hijau menyala.
*Fabio Quartararo sewaktu Winter Test di Sepang
Pastinya keadaan itu mahu dielakkan Yamaha apatah lagi Quartararo ketika ini dalam usaha mengekalkan status pendahulu kejuaraan dunia.
Pasukan Repsol dan LCR Honda, masing-masing menggunakan jentera RC213V Factory Spec terbaru ketika ini – kecuali Takaaki Nakagami (LCR) beraksi dengan jentera 2019 – tidak berdepan sebarang masalah teknikal sehingga kini.
*Takaaki Nakagami dengan jentera RC213V 2019
Walaupun terdapat beberapa isu – terutamanya semasa keluar masuk selekoh – sewaktu sesi ‘Winter Test’ di Sepang dan seterusnya di Qatar, masalah itu dapat diatasi pada hari terakhir di Litar Losail, Februari lalu.
Keserasian
Marquez dan jentera RC213V mempunyai tahap keserasian yang tinggi berbanding pelumba lain di kelas premier.
*Marc Marquez sewaktu Winter Test di Sepang
Ketika rakan sepasukan, Jorge Lorenzo bergelut sepanjang musim 2019 dengan RC213V, Marquez terus cemerlang dengan 12 kemenangan daripada 19 pusingan.
Marquez turut mencatat lima kemenangan berturut-turut musim lalu bermula di Misano, Aragon, Buriram, Motegi dan Phillip Island.
*Alex Marquez
Musim ini, adiknya, Alex Marquez yang diangkat dari Moto2 turut bergelut namun sudah mula pamer peningkatan selepas berjaya menduduki tempat kedua di GP Perancis baru-baru ini.
*Repsol Honda MotoGP
Beraksi di litar basah sememangnya sukar namun (Alex) Marquez menampilkan tunggangan yang konsisten untuk menaiki podium MotoGP pertama dalam kariernya.
*Alex Marquez merekodkan podium sulung di Le Mans
Keserasian merupakan elemen penting bagi Honda, jadi tidak hairan pasukan itu membuat keputusan untuk meletakkan (Alex) Marquez di LCR Honda bagi musim 2021 dalam usaha mencapai tahap serasi terbaik.
*RC213V 2020 Alex Marquez
Hal ini kerana ketika pasukan lain mencipta jentera mengikut acuan pelumba, pelumba Honda pula perlu menyesuaikan diri dengan RC213V.
Walaupun ada yang bergelut namun keserasian adalah resepi kejayaan Repsol Honda bersama Marc Marquez.
Aksi MotoGP kembali bersambung minggu ini di Aragon yang bakal memfokuskan terhadap Quartararo dalam usahanya mengukuhkan kedudukan selaku pendahulu kejuaraan.
*Marc Marquez
Walaupun ada yang mendakwa musim 2020 lebih mengujakan tanpa kehadiran Marquez, hakikatnya, pelumba berusia 27 tahun itu akan membuatkan musim 2020 lebih menyeronokkan bagi setiap peminat MotoGP.
Teringat lagi aksi pembukaan di Jerez, Marquez mampu meletakkan dirinya di tempat ketiga mengejar dari belakang (dari tempat ke-16) sebelum kemalangan ketika perlumbaan berbaki 4 lap.
Rasanya, tiada pelumba lain yang mampu mempamerkan sifat tidak cepat putus asa seperti ditayangkan Marquez.
Apa pun, Marquez perlu ‘meminjamkan’ sementara taktha MotoGP kepada muka baharu musim ini dan kembali dominasi kelas premier musim depan.
A third win in Barcelona puts Petronas Yamaha SRT rider, Fabio Quartararo, back on top of the 2020 MotoGP championship with 108 points. The young Frenchman hopes to further extend his lead this weekend in Le Mans where he has a big home advantage where he also hopes to make amends with a better result than last year. (more…)
After a month of hardship, Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) is back on the highest step of the MotoGP podium after crossing the chequered flag first at the Catalan GP. With this win, he’s once again in the lead of the 2020 championship title chase with a total of 108 points. (more…)
The upcoming MotoGP 2020 round takes place this weekend at Automotodrom Brno for the Czech GP and Petronas Yamaha SRT plans to not only conquer but also extend their lead in the championship as well as team standings thanks to their two riders, Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli.
With a perfect start to the season so far for Fabio Quartararo, the young Frenchman heads to Czech Republic high in confidence with two victories under his belt (as well as two pole positions). His Yamaha YZR-M1 will definitely be the one to beat, but rest assured that Franco Morbidelli will be there to fight for the win after suffering an engine failure in the last race.
The month of August will probably be the most crucial point of the 2020 MotoGP championship as riders and teams will compete in three back-to-back rounds at Automotodrom Brno and Red Bull Ring – Spielberg. Defending champion, Marc Marquez, will be sitting out this weekend and possibly two more races after going through a second operation on his broken arm.
According to Fabio Quartararo, “Brno is a track that I really like. We know from last year that we can be fast there and that we have the performance, even if it is not the best place for our bike. There are a lot of great corners that make up the circuit but the last corner is one of the best. You have to go in with a lot of corner speed but also prepare to take the perfect line for the straight. It’s great to be going there after taking two wins and we’re looking at fighting for the podium this weekend.”
As for Franco Morbidelli, “My expectations for Brno are high, especially as it’s a circuit that I really like. In fact, I think it’s one of the best on the calendar! It’s a very old-style track as it’s long, wide, technical and fast. Looking at the level that we had in Jerez, we are expecting good things this weekend. I’ve also had some good results there in the past. Of course, this year we’ve got to be better and improve our record there. I think we will have some good battles and I’m looking forward to going there, with the aim of finishing in the top-five.”
The Andalucia MotoGP round in Jerez, Spain yesterday saw Yamaha locking out all three podium positions for the first time since 2014 where Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) scored his second premier class victory, followed by Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), and his teammate, Valentino Rossi. (more…)
After months of no racing, MotoGP came back with so much action and drama, it’s hard to even believe. One of those momentous occasions was Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) scoring his first-ever premier class win at the Spanish GP in Jerez, Spain. (more…)
Pelumba Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (SRT), Fabio Quartararo, menghadiahkan kejuaraan sulung buat dirinya dan pasukan dalam aksi pembukaan tirai di Gran Premio Red Bull De Espana, hari ini.
Ini merupakan kejuaraan sulung Quartararo dan pasukan Petronas SRT di pentas MotoGP.
Quartararo – yang menunggang jentera M1 Factory Spec – mempamerkan tunggangan mantap sebaik perlumbaan bermula dengan berjaya mengekalkan kedudukan selaku pendahulu sehingga tamat aksi.
Dia turut muncul sebagai pelumba Perancis pertama dalam tempoh 21 tahun untuk menjuarai kelas premier MotoGP.
Tempat kedua jadi milik pelumba Factory Yamaha, Maverick Vinales diikuti pelumba Ducati, Andrea Dovizioso.
Bagaimanapun, pelbagai drama berlaku di belakang Quartararo dengan penyandang juara, Marc Marquez gagal mengutip sebarang mata.
Marquez yang bermula di petak ketiga, jatuh ke kedudukan ke-16 apabila jenteranya hilang kawalan.
Dia kemudiannya berjaya mengejar kelompok depan sehingga menempatkan dirinya kembali di kedudukan ketiga setelah memintas Pol Espargaro, Franco Morbidelli, Jack Miller dan Andrea Dovizioso dengan mudah.
Sumber: MotoGP @ Twitter
Bagaimanapun, dalam percubaan untuk mengejar tempat kedua, Maverick Vinales, dia mengalami ‘highside’ lantas kemalangan dengan rakaman televisyen memaparkan dia kemungkinan alami kecederaan teruk di lengan kanan.
Dalam perkembangan lain, pelumba negara, Hafizh Syahrin berjaya menamatkan aksi Moto2 dikedudukan ke-6 sekaligus mengutip mata pertama (10 mata) musim ini.
Ini merupakan pencapaian terbaiknya musim ini selepas merekodkan kedudukan ke-19 dalam aksi pertama di Litar Losail, Mac lalu.
Sementara itu, seorang lagi wakil negara, Kasma Daniel dari pasukan Onexox TKKR SAG Team menamatkan aksi di ekdudukan ke-22.
