Fabio Quartararo was one of the fastest riders in the Portimao test, finishing third on the combined grid and just over three-tenths of a second off Pecco Bagnaia's best time.
The gaul was asked to comment on the strong wind that was felt at certain moments in the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, and he didn't hesitate to say that due to the increasing speed of the motorbikes and the existence of many aerodynamic components in the bikes, the wind is a much more dangerous factor than before:
- I got the idea that on sunday there were some crashes, the wind is affecting us a lot more. In the past there were fewer wings and now that's a factor to take more into account. The top speed before was much less than now and all that affects. In terms of safety it's not the same, it's not as safe but at the same time it's like that for all the riders.
'We lost our way, we changed a lot of things, I think even too much' - Fabio Quartararo
Fabio Quartararo was in the spotlight at the Portimao test. The frenchman was third on the combined timesheet on the new YZR-M1, a machine that he believes is very different.
'During the last three, four years we have had practically the same bike but this year we have changed a lot of things, I think even too much. The others are working and evolving step by step, but for us it was basically three years with the same bike and suddenly it's completely different. For me we've lost our way but we've gone back to using what we've had in the past but with small modifications. I expect more problems at the beginning of the season but if Yamaha keep working and bring something new, I'm confident we can be in the fight in the second half of the season', pointed out the 2021 champion at the end of testing on portuguese soil, also commenting on the injury he suffered in pre-season and which apparently has not been fully resolved.
In the winter Quartararo broke his wrist, an injury that will be healed, although he admits to have felt some pain in Portugal: 'For now I haven't had anything yet. On saturday I had some pain, but nothing major, during the morning. But on saturday I did 90 laps and about 60, 65 on sunday, so it was nothing to worry about. It was a lot of laps and I feel very good physically'.
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