Exclusive Insight: Quartararo’s 800km Drive for Ducati Insights and the Key Factor Keeping Him with Yamaha

Exclusive: Fabio Quartararo Embarks on 800km Journey for Ducati Insights from Bartolini

Max Bartolini played a crucial role in Fabio Quartararo's decision to stay with Yamaha – traveled 800km to seek information from the Italian on Ducati: 'Every question on your mind, I raised it!'

Fabio Quartararo was presented with the chance to sign with any MotoGP team for the 2025 season. However, he decided to remain loyal to Yamaha, the team he has been with since his debut season in 2019 and with whom he clinched the global championship in 2021.

Quartararo's choice was significantly influenced by the offseason acquisition of Max Bartolini, who came on board as Yamaha's technical director, having been a key figure in Ducati's achievements.

In a segment of a special interview with Crash.net in Catalunya, Quartararo discussed his decision for 2025, his objectives for an important initial encounter with Bartolini, the importance of the forthcoming MotoGP trials, among other topics…

Unfortunately, you haven't provided

It has been mentioned that you received proposals from 'everyone' for the upcoming season. Were you at least tempted to test out one of the bikes from Europe?

Fabio Quartararo:

I had the chance to experience, I would suggest, every brand. However, you might guess, for some brands, the opportunity presented was to ride a factory bike within a satellite team, while for others, it was within a factory team itself.

However, I wasn't prepared to depart from Yamaha due to numerous factors. Initially, it was out of fidelity to Yamaha, in recognition of their past support for me. Additionally, I began to genuinely have faith in the project, noting the significant investment in engineers before the season commenced. They're dedicating resources to enhance the motorcycle at an accelerated pace.

I'm still in my early years, and I'm eager to make another attempt, offering Yamaha the chance to truly make a comeback. We've experienced the pinnacle, found ourselves at the lowest point, and now, I'm keen to rise to the summit once more alongside them.

Unfortunately, you haven't provided

Are you aware of the reason why your choice to re-sign with Yamaha caught some individuals off guard?

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The choice was influenced by the influx of new talent at Yamaha. A significant influence was Max Bartolini, who was engaged in discussions elsewhere. His involvement played a crucial role in my decision-maai-allcreator.com">king process. My trust in him and my knowledge of his intentions for the motorcycle make me optimistic about reaching our objectives. For me, the primary aim is to ensure we have the most competitive bike by 2025.

As the text you've requested

You mentioned that your initial encounter with Max spanned three hours. Could you share the kind of questions you posed to him? For example, did you inquire about the contents of the salad box attached to the Ducati's rear? Were you curious about their ride height mechanism or the aerodynamics involved?

Apologies, but it appears there's no

I inquired about everything that crossed your mind, including their approach from race speed to qualifying and the variance in their fuel capacity. Numerous queries I had were addressed. His responses prompted me to ponder additional questions, making the conversation truly fascinating.

I traveled a round trip of 800 ai-allcreator.com">kilometers between Nice and Milan just for that discussion. I was genuinely eager to hear what he had to say. From that moment, it was an eye-opener for me. My uncertainty about the project's prospects transformed into a conviction that, with his arrival, it was time to seriously consider our next steps.

Following the Sepang trial, he mentioned, 'Significant time is required to enhance the motorcycle'. This is partly due to his need to familiarize himself with the bike and make numerous adjustments. Hence, my faith in him and the project's prospects remains strong, yet as a racer, I inherently desire advancements to be immediate, not half a year away!

Currently, we're conducting numerous tests. Following Mugello, we're scheduled for the [official] test, and then we'll head to Valencia for a two-day session. We have plenty of items on our testing agenda, and it feels like we're moving in the right direction.

Unfortunately, you haven't provided

During your initial meeting with Max, when he clarified certain aspects, did it also help you gain a better understanding as a rider? Perhaps there were moments on the track where you wondered, 'why am I unable to replicate that?'

There seems to be a misunderstanding. Your request

In the initial discussion, no. However, once we began testing in Sepang, he remarked, 'Alright, they're significantly better in this aspect, and that aspect…' Damn! That's precisely what I observe on the track.

Thus, when you observe something and subsequently an individual who has spent numerous years there [Ducati] points out what your motorcycle lacks, it instills confidence in you.

Unfortunately, without the specific text

Are you aware that the problem doesn't lie with you as the cyclist?

Unfortunately, you didn't provide any specific text

However, it goes beyond just you; it's about possessing the assurance to acknowledge, 'Alright, we've identified a problem with the bike and need to enhance this specific aspect.' Previously, pinpointing the issue was a challenge. Currently, we're aware of what needs fixing, yet we must discover the right fixes.

Unfortunately, you haven't provided

Regarding potential solutions, you mentioned upon renewing your contract that there was a significant development in the works at Yamaha, which was, at the time, classified. Could you possibly share a hint?

It seems like the text you've provided doesn

I'm unable to do so, however, I can assure you that it's on its way.

During the Mugello trials, a variety of motorcycles and numerous components will be under scrutiny. Similarly, at the private Valencia test in June, we're slated for more evaluations. There's a slew of developments on the horizon that I believe will significantly aid our team's resurgence.

Unfortunately, you didn't provide

Yamaha and Honda's dominance in MotoGP came to an abrupt halt. Marc sustained an injury at Honda, but I'm curious about your perspective – do you believe the Japanese manufacturers made a misstep, or has MotoGP evolved beyond the Japanese teams' grasp?

Apologies, but it seems like the provided

Frankly speaking, I believe we became somewhat complacent. Occasionally, when you continuously mask an issue too extensively, there comes a moment when it's impossible to hide it any longer, and the outcomes shift dramatically without warning.

In 2022, I believe I managed to address many of Yamaha's shortcomings. However, after a certain point, I was no longer able to do so. It seemed like they intended to implement some changes, but we were unable to make any progress. That situation was even more disappointing.

Currently, the bicycle has significantly improved in speed on straight paths. When considering its maximum velocity, it's quite impressive. However, the downside is that its cornering ability and traction have deteriorated from what they used to be. In my opinion, these are the areas we need to address and improve upon.

Unfortunately, you didn't provide

Is it essential for a Yamaha to excel in taking corners quickly to triumph in MotoGP competitions?

Unfortunately, I cannot proceed without the content related

Indeed, it's a crucial aspect. Historically, Yamaha's advantage lay in its superior cornering ability. Despite having an engine that lagged behind Ducati's power in 2021, Yamaha excelled in handling turns better than its competitor.

Currently, they possess the maneuverability we once had, but with added strength. Thus, the gap has significantly widened, especially considering the aerodynamics and other factors.

Thus, it's essential for us to rediscover this pivotal moment and maintain our current strength. This is an aspect we need to comprehend, and then, with luck, we'll regain our speed.

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