MotoGP: Quartararo Calls Morbidelli’s Late Overtake ‘Ridiculous and Senseless’

Unfortunate Events for Fabio Quartararo

Fabio Quartararo faced yet another stroke of bad luck during the second race of the weekend at Buriram, where an aggressive maneuver by fellow French rider Franco Morbidelli led to significant disappointment. Having already experienced a collision with Brad Binder during the sprint event, this latest incident further dashed Quartararo’s hopes in the race. “It’s absurd to attempt an overtaking maneuver so late in the early laps. He could have simply waited for two straights and then passed me,” said Quartararo, visibly frustrated in remarks covered by Motorsport.

Concerns Over Aggressive Driving Tactics

In his reflections, the Yamaha driver expressed disbelief regarding Morbidelli’s tactics. “I find it quite ridiculous to make such overtakes in the early laps,” Quartararo explained, highlighting his lack of control over the situation. The incident occurred at Turn 8, a corner that seems to have become a focal point of misfortune for Quartararo over the weekend. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this corner, but it’s twice now that I’ve been taken out there. Yesterday was a very aggressive move, and today, it felt more like a reckless attack. That’s racing, but unfortunately, we can’t control what others do,” Quartararo commented.

Analyzing the Collision

Quartararo further elaborated on the incident, stating, “[The crash] happened so fast that I didn’t even see it coming, but given the speed he approached me at Turn 8, I suspect he was quite far away when braking and simply let off the brakes.” He categorized Morbidelli’s actions as overly ambitious. “This morning, he was very quick; he just had to wait for a straight to pass me at Turn 3. With 20 laps still remaining, I don’t think those three turns would have prevented him from finishing on the podium or even winning,” added the Yamaha rider.

Disappointment Amidst a Golden Opportunity

The level of disappointment is compounded for Quartararo, the 2021 world champion, who has struggled this season, unable to achieve better than seventh place. He saw a prime opportunity to secure one of his best results of the year. “As for the podium, I’m not entirely sure, but I knew I had a strong pace,” the Frenchman revealed. He noted, “It’s tough to estimate the possible outcome because I always kept an eye on where Bagnaia was on the screens.” Quartararo recognized that while the gap was widening, it wasn’t insurmountable. “I wasn’t gunning for the podium, but realistically, I believe I could have competed for a position between third and seventh. I was just watching the screens, which makes it hard to be precise,” he concluded, aware that had it not been for the takedown, a top-five finish could have been within his reach.

In Summary:

Fabio Quartararo continues to struggle with misfortune in the competitive world of MotoGP. He believes Franco Morbidelli acted overly optimistically, resulting in a collision that has left him reeling this season. As he reflects on these challenges, the former champion remains determined to seize future opportunities.