British MotoGP GP: Return to a land favorable to Quartarro

Posted in: 27/08/2021 – 07:20the average : 27/08/2021 – 07:19

Paris (AFP)

After two races that promised to be tough in Austria but kept the furniture – even better – Fabio Quartararo, in search of a first world title in MotoGP, has found “a circuit (really loves it)” in Britain from Friday. to Sunday.

“I approach this Grand Prix in a very positive state of mind,” confirms the Frenchman, who has increased his lead in the drivers’ standings to 47 points after 12 rounds (from 19 if the coronavirus pandemic allows), despite finishing seventh in the second Austrian event. mid August.

“My goal is to fight for victory, first because it’s one of my favorite tracks, then because it’s an important GP for the team,” who shares the same title sponsor, follows the player who has never been on the podium at Silverstone before.

The Quartararo’s only concern is that he’s uncomfortable on his Yamaha in “mixed” conditions (light rain or a drying track). “I think it will be a good race if the conditions are good. If it rains, we have to see, but we will do our best,” he promised.

Thursday, however, the weekend weather is expected to be cloudy, cool, but dry.

Still at Yamaha, there’s a changeover on the other side of the garage, following a mid-season divorce from Maverick Vinales.

“I’m focused on my work. I’m not sad. It’s an individual sport and I have a new teammate this weekend,” he said in a situation that “really doesn’t affect” Quarteraro.

Yamaha and Suzuki favorites

In fact, the Spaniard was replaced by Cal Crutchlow, a full-time MotoGP player until last year, and is now testing the racer for the Japanese manufacturer.

The Briton benefited from a warm-up in Austria, replacing Italian Franco Morbidelli on the Yamaha-SRT Satellite Team. In 17th place in both races, he feels he can do a better job at home.

At SRT (who will leave the championship in 2022 and whose leaders will form a new team that was introduced in mid-September at the San Marino Grand Prix), Jake Dixon, another Briton competing in Moto2, who replaced Morbidelli, is recovering after a one-knee operation in June.

Of the 9 World Awards since 2010 at Silverstone in the First Division, Yamaha has won 4 cars, but nevertheless shares the preferred position with Suzuki, and 2 successes in 2016 and 2019.

Especially since the spearhead of Group B, defending champion Joan Mir, returned from summer break in July more lively than he was during the first part of the season.

Third place in the 47th Quartararo Championship, here the Spaniard is among his closest, along with Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), second place also with 47 points, and the other Frenchman Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac), from fourth to 49 units . .

– run out –

After falling during the last Grand Prix in Austria, Zarko has lost his second place in the drivers’ standings and has to get off on the right foot. “At the time, it’s hard to swallow but over the next week we realized it was part of the job,” he says. “Seeing the positive, even if I still want to get better, I’m not far from something that’s not bad I still think I can be pretty good at Unlock the little things. Ducati too.”

As for the Spaniard Marc Marquez (Honda), he is still progressing towards his level before his serious injury in 2020.

In Moto2 (which has spanned the engine manufacturer since 2019, Triumph, through 2024), the fight continues between Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, Australian Remy Gardner (206 points) and Spain’s Raul Fernandez (187).

In Moto3, we expect, as always, to see what Spanish “rookie” Pedro Acosta, the championship leader by 41 steps, is capable of.

One of the longest-running and fastest circuits on the calendar, Silverstone was not on the program in 2020 due to Covid-19 but is back on sale this year.

To adapt to the time difference with continental Europe, the race order was reversed on Sunday, with Moto3 at 12:20 (11:20 GMT), MotoGP at 2:00 PM (1:00 PM GMT) and finally Moto2 at 3 : 30 pm (2:30 pm GMT).

© 2021 AFP