Feeling The Hunting For MotoGP Titles Starting From The Beginning Again, Quartararo: Our Points Are Almost The Same As Pecco

Fabio Quartararo (Instagram @fabioquarantararo20)

JAKARTA - Defending champion Fabio Quartararo emphasized that he remained calm and was not affected by the series of bad performances with Yamaha so that the title race this season was still wide open.

The French rider has collected just eight points from the last three races as his main rival, Francesco Bagnaia of the Ducati team, approaches just two points from the top of the table with three races remaining.

Arriving in Australia after 17 races, the top five riders in the standings are separated by 40 points, with a maximum of 75 points up for grabs until the end of the season.

Quartararo finished P17 outside the points zone during a wet race in Thailand two weeks ago and was disappointed to refuse to speak to the media after the race.

At a pre-race press conference session on Phillip Island, Australia, Thursday, Quartararo then apologized to the media crew and explained what happened in Thailand.

"I made the decision not to speak to the media, I apologize to everyone in Thailand at that time," said Quartararo, who could not speak up after the race in Buriram, quoted from Antara, Thursday.

In Thailand, Quartararo revealed he and his team made mistakes from the start by using high tire pressure for the race, thus affecting his performance when he turned in the race.

Finding Bagnaia finish third in Buriram, Quartararo and his rivals agree that the hunt for world titles this season is like starting all over again.

"I think we have to think about this championship. But actually, I want to focus on one race to another, because in the end now is like the beginning of the championship," he said.

"Our points are almost the same as Pecco but I'm not just wary of Pecco. Of course Aleix is also there, Jack and Enea... So the five of us are not very far away from points."

"The top three are a little tighter, but I think we have to think about every race, and I think this could be our good thing."

After being a challenger for the 2020 season title and becoming world champion in 2021, Quartararo said the valuable experience of the two years helped him overcome the pressure towards the season-ending series.

"Getting a title last year gave me great confidence and more experience," he said. "Obviously the experience of the previous two years has helped me a lot to stay calm in this situation."

Bagnaia, who has earned 36 points from the last three races, agrees that the title race will feel like it started from scratch.

"As Fabio said, we seem to have just started the championship and we have five riders who have chances of winning titles," Bagnaia said.

"Of course, Fabio and I have more chances, but others are also not far behind and we know this year everything can change. But I think the potential is very high, we are in a good moment and we have to use it."

Quartararo is still at the top of the standings, but Bagnaia is now only two points away from the Yamaha rider.

Aprilia Aleix Espargaro is 20 points away in third place, followed by Enea Bastianini from Gresini (39) and Jack Miller from Ducati (40).