MotoGP rookie Fabio Quartararo says he was “surprised” to see he posted a lap of 1:54.154s to end Qatar Grand Prix practice fifth after an error-filled time attack.
Quartararo, who steps up to MotoGP this year with the new Petronas Sepang Racing Team, ended the Qatar test second overall and continued his strong form on Friday with the fifth-fastest lap of Friday's running on his Yamaha.
Admitting to make “several mistakes” on his best effort, Quartararo believes without them he could have joined Friday pacesetter Marc Marquez on the Honda, works Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales and Pramac's Jack Miller in the 1:53s bracket.
“I didn’t feel so good on the first tyre but I did have a full tank at that point,” Friday's top rookie runner said.
“After that we tried another tyre and I actually made a few mistakes on my fast lap, so it was a surprise to see that I had managed a 1:54.1s, which means I could even have managed a high 1:53s or an even lower 1:54s.
“I am really happy with the pace we have set tonight and the job the team has done.
“We need to stay calm and keep working in the same way. I have felt good so far in the two free practice sessions.”
Team-mate Franco Morbidelli was a tenth and two further spots back in seventh on Friday, setting his best lap on his number two bike following a crash at Turn 1.
He put his tumble down to going “too hard” into the first corner on a used tyre while trying new set-up.
“I was trying to understand a new aspect of the setting that we were trying and it was my first lap, so I think I just went too hard into turn one on used tyres and ended up crashing,” he said.
“Maybe the tyre wasn’t quite ready for me to push so hard, so basically it was my own fault.
“After the crash we were able to rediscover the feeling very easily and I was able to go fast with the new setting on the second bike.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do many laps on it and we would have liked to have done more on used tyres, which was the plan.
“Despite that, we were able to get a few laps in so we do at least have some information to work from.”
