The PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team duo of Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli are aiming high as they head into the next round of the 2019 MotoGP season at the Austrian Grand Prix, only five days after last weekend’s Czech race. Straight from a strong test at the Automotodrom Brno on Monday, the pair are full of confidence as they prepare to line up at the Red Bull Ring.
Quartararo goes into the weekend fresh from seventh place in the race and top spot in Monday’s one-day test at Brno, and is keen to continue improving in Austria. Aware that the Spielberg track isn’t one that necessarily plays to the strengths of his Yamaha YZR-M1, he’s nonetheless aiming to consolidate his spot as leader of the rookie of the year battle.
Similarly, Morbidelli is heading to a circuit where he’s a former winner on a high. Unable to show his potential in Sunday’s Czech Grand Prix after being taken out by another rider he bounced back with third at Monday’s test. Able to complete an extensive development program, he’s hoping that the lessons learned aid him come Sunday’s race.
Action for the 11th round of the championship gets underway at 0955 local time (1755 Malaysian time) on Friday 9th August, with Sunday’s 28-lap race kicking off at 1400 local time (2000 Malaysian time).
Franco Morbidelli – #21
“It’s going to be a difficult weekend for sure, but we’ll keep believing in ourselves. We’ve been able to be very fast on some occasions this year and this will be a weekend where we have to understand how to be fast all the time. We’ll gather lots of data and study hard to make the best out of it. It’s a circuit where I’ve got good memories though, and I really like riding the track. With our bike and all the straights I know it’s going to be tricky, but let’s just wait and see how tricky it will be.”
Fabio Quartararo – #20
“We know that it won’t be an easy track for us, but we’ll use the factory Yamahas as a benchmark. We know that some other bikes might have a little bit more power and that Spielberg has many long straights, but we’re going into the weekend really calm and not about to make stupid mistakes. It’s a totally different track and it’ll be nice to try out a new challenge on the YZR-M1. It’s a track that has always been positive for me in Moto2 and Moto3 and I know I’ll enjoy riding there a lot, but we’ll have to wait and see what will be possible on Sunday.”
