Reigning MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo has conceded that scoring a second successive championship “is going to be tough” after crashing out of the Aragon Grand Prix.
The factory Yamaha rider was positive of a good result on Sunday at Aragon having qualified sixth, the Frenchman having shown race pace in practice that was as good as anyone on the grid.
His chances of securing a debut Aragon podium were destroyed after just six corners though as he rammed into the rear of a slowing Marc Marquez’s Honda, Quartararo’s Yamaha folding under him instantaneously and leaving him out of the race on the spot.
With main title rival Francesco Bagnaia continuing his recent purple patch en-route to second in the Aragon GP, Quartararo’s lead has been reduced to just ten points with five races left to run – leaving him to admit that he felt it was going to be “tough” to hold on and score his second world title.
“I’m disappointed because I felt I had the pace to fight for a great result but unfortunately we crashed on the first lap,” said Quartararo.
“Many riders lost the rear and cut the line, but I just hit Marc (Marquez) in the back and that was it.
“Luckily it was nothing heavy just that I burned the front (chest), nothing broken just some burns.
“I’m really happy for Enea (Bastianini), its five extra points but of course it’s going to be tough because we know there are some tricky races coming up and we’ve lost so many points because all the guys behind in the championship were 1-2-3.
“I will do my best to try and be at 100% for Japan and fight for the victory.”
Quartararo has failed to outscore Ducati pilot Bagnaia since his victory at the Sachsenring in the German GP back in June, his lead having reduced from a stout 91 to just ten in the five races since – his hopes not helped that he has scored just a single rostrum result at the Red Bull Ring across these events, as well as two DNF’s.
