Yamaha MotoGP rider Fabio Quartararo expressed his need to “disconnect from racing” following a disappointing performance at the Australian Grand Prix on October 15, 2023. Despite starting the weekend strong by securing pole position with a record-setting lap at Phillip Island, Quartararo struggled during the race, finishing in 11th place, unable to maintain a top-10 position.
Quartararo’s teammate, Alex Rins, outperformed him, finishing in seventh place, just behind the leading Honda rider, Luca Marini. While Honda has seen significant improvements since the summer break, Yamaha has faced challenges, focusing on developing a new V4 bike set for a 2026 release.
The long MotoGP season, consisting of 22 races, has taken a toll on many riders, including Quartararo. He acknowledged that his lack of competitiveness has made the situation more difficult. “Mentally, when you make results, it’s OK. But what we are doing right now, I think it’s difficult,” he noted. This season has been particularly challenging for Quartararo, with results not reflecting his expectations or capabilities.
Quartararo emphasized the importance of training and maintaining a positive mindset as he prepares for future races. “I want to be fast, I want to be there. But when the results are not coming, you just want to go home and try to see the positive,” he stated. Looking ahead, he mentioned, “I am especially looking forward to the next four days where I can disconnect a bit from racing. I really need that.”
As he prepares for the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix, Quartararo is keen to shift his focus and forget the frustrations of the previous race. “Sepang is a track I like, but I’m just trying to forget a bit what happened and just focus on myself,” he added.
Quartararo described his race performance as “really strange,” as he had finished seventh in the sprint and recorded the fourth-fastest time in warm-up. He expressed confusion over the significant drop in pace during the race, stating, “I don’t really know what happened today. I could not stop the bike, I could not really carry speed.”
Currently, Quartararo sits in ninth place in the riders’ championship, while Yamaha finds itself at the bottom of the manufacturers’ standings. With the challenges of the current season weighing heavily on him, the upcoming days will be crucial for Quartararo as he seeks to regain his competitive edge.
