Heading into this weekend’s Gran Premio de Europa, Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) is hoping his “good feelings” from previous MotoGP™ appearances at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo will see him enjoy a successful two weekends in Valencia.
The two races in Valencia are incredibly crucial in determining which hands the 2020 MotoGP™ Championship trophy will be lifted in – that goes without saying. As things stand, Quartararo is 14 points adrift of Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and has conceded 62 points to the GSR-RR rider from Austria to Teruel. But the Frenchman is in high spirits coming into a double-header at a circuit that he enjoys, as the 21-year-old hopes to rediscover his early season form to reel in Mir – and keep the competition behind at bay.
“Although we had two difficult races last time out in Aragon, I want to take advantage of the good feeling I have always had on a MotoGP bike at Valencia in these two races coming up,” said Quartararo. “It’s a small track, but is one that I like. I had a great feeling there last year, when I took a podium and the pole position, and also in the post-season test.
“Of course I hope to be able to repeat that this weekend. There are three races left this year and a 14-point gap with the leader. We know how fast we can be, so I think we have some good opportunities coming into these final events in Valencia and Portimao, and I’m looking forward to the first of them this weekend.”
A pole position and a P2 behind race winner Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in 2019 was a good weekend at the office for Quartararo. A fourth win of the season is of course what the Frenchman will be aiming for this time around, but podiums – depending on the results of others – are now a must if the sophomore is to become 2020 World Champion.