Photo: Yamaha Factory Racing
Fabio Quartararo blames himself after costly Catalunya sprint error
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Fabio Quartararo admitted he felt “a bit stupid” after making a costly mistake during the Catalunya MotoGP Sprint race. The Yamaha rider showed strong pace throughout the weekend, but one error ended his hopes of fighting near the front.
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Fabio Quartararo admitted he felt “a bit stupid” after making a mistake during the Catalunya MotoGP Sprint race. The Yamaha rider was disappointed because he believed he had the speed to fight near the front, but one small error changed his race completely.
Quartararo started the weekend with good confidence. Yamaha had shown better pace in practice, and the French rider looked comfortable on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Fans hoped he could challenge the Ducati riders and return to the podium battle once again.
During the Sprint race, Quartararo pushed hard to stay with the leading group. However, he made an error while braking and lost important time. After the race, he said he felt frustrated with himself because the mistake was avoidable. He explained that in MotoGP even a very small problem can destroy a rider’s chances in only a few seconds.
The 2021 MotoGP world champion has often spoken honestly about Yamaha’s difficulties in recent seasons. Even when the bike improves, riders still need to take risks to stay competitive against Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia. Quartararo said he was trying to ride at the limit because every position matters in modern MotoGP racing.
Despite his disappointment, Quartararo also saw positive signs during the Catalunya weekend. The Yamaha machine looked more stable, especially in fast corners, and the team appeared closer to the leading bikes than in some earlier races. This gave the Frenchman hope that stronger results could come later in the season.
Quartararo remains one of the most talented riders on the MotoGP grid. Since winning the world title in 2021, he has continued to fight hard even during difficult periods for Yamaha. Many fans and experts still believe he can return to regular race wins if the bike continues to improve.
The Catalunya Sprint showed both the positives and negatives of Quartararo’s current situation. His speed was encouraging, but the smallest mistake proved very costly. Even so, the French rider stayed determined and focused on improving for the main Grand Prix race.
