MotoGP: the good and the not so good for Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco in Brazil

In a discovery weekend for MotoGP’s return to Brazil, Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco experienced a wide range of emotions.

Twenty years later, the MotoGP paddock was back in Brazil at the new Goiânia circuit. A very winding and fast track whose brand new asphalt suffered notably from the heavy storms that hit the country at the beginning of the season.

In very difficult conditions, Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco managed to hold their own by staying on their wheels. A specialist in qualifying, Fabio Quartararo showed the full extent of his talent in Q2 to place his machine in 4th position on the starting grid. Johann Zarco, always comfortable in these mixed conditions, also managed to do well by taking 10th place.

That same evening, for the sprint race, after several long minutes of waiting following a track subsidence, Fabio Quartararo made a very good start. The Maralpin managed to place himself 2nd ahead of Marc Márquez. On a track where it is very difficult to overtake, the Nice native nevertheless highlighted the cruel performance deficit of his Yamaha in the race. Nearly half a second slower per lap than the leaders, Fabio Quartararo could do nothing to maintain his position. A slide that led him to the 6th position in the final sprint race, just ahead of defending vice-world champion Álex Márquez.

At the finish, ‘El Diablo’ was rather satisfied: “I enjoyed the beginning of the race. I just wanted to attack. We know we don’t have the potential to be with them yet but at least I enjoyed those moments. I think I managed to adapt well to the track, especially with dry conditions. Tomorrow, the race will be long and there might be something to enjoy.”

For Johann Zarco, the start went less well. Hindered by Fermín Aldeguer’s bad start next to him, who almost hit him, the Cannes driver immediately lost four places. On the attack to try to get back in the points, the Honda LCR team rider lost the front in a right-hand corner, causing a high-speed crash. More of a scare than actual harm for Johann Zarco, who clarified the reasons for his loss of control: “Raul passes me, and under braking I was sucked in by him so I didn’t take the racing line. Being on the outside, it directly causes you to lose the front, because the track is dirtier.” Not satisfied with his bike’s behavior on the dry, he was already looking ahead to a rain dance for Sunday: “I’m not praying for rain, but if it rains and we can go for the podium or victory, we have to dream.”

A shorter race not so favorable to Fabio Quartararo

Originally scheduled for 31 laps, the Grand Prix was held over only 23 laps, barely eight more than the previous day’s sprint. The reason: severe track degradation, which was urgently resurfaced after the floods that hit the Goiânia region earlier in the week.

Good news in theory for Fabio Quartararo’s Yamaha, which had decided to start on a soft rear tire. Despite this grip advantage, the Nice driver remained stuck on the starting grid. With six places lost at the start, the Yamaha driver’s race became significantly more complicated. Not at all in rhythm at the start of the race, the #20 was losing places as the laps went by. Mid-race, Fabio Quartararo was barely in the points before being ejected from the top 15 once again. ‘El Diablo’ finally crossed the line in 16th position, far from what he hoped for.

Unlike the previous day, the good news came from Johann Zarco. Making a good start by overtaking three riders, the Cannes driver found himself in 7th position at the end of the first lap. Fighting against the weekend’s best riders, the Frenchman held on for a long time before a gap formed ahead. Down to 9th position, the Honda LCR driver remained the best driver from the Japanese manufacturer. Using his tire management expertise, Johann Zarco attempted to come back into Fermín Aldeguer’s slipstream, who had pushed him the previous day, to give him a taste of his own medicine. He ultimately fell just over a second short but could be satisfied with finishing first Honda rider. Objective achieved.

Next Grand Prix: next weekend in Austin, Texas, on a more conventional track where we can truly judge the progress — or lack thereof — of the different machines.