Mugello pole ‘probably the best lap in my life’ - Quartararo

Fabio Quartararo will start tomorrow’s Mugello MotoGP race from pole position after breaking the lap record set by Francesco Bagnaia in FP3.

Bagnaia’s lap time of 1m 45.456s bettered the previous record held by Marc Marquez in 2019, however, Quartararo raised the benchmark even further by going nearly three tenths quicker on a 1m 45.187s. 

"This was probably the best lap I have ever done in my life,” said the Frenchman following his fourth consecutive pole of 2021. 

"This is the type of track where you can really feel the adrenaline. I was on the limit everywhere. In the first sector, I was moving all the time, but I just said ’I‘m going to send it‘. 

"I really wanted to do the fastest lap today, and it worked. I‘m actually really looking forward to seeing the onboard lap, because for sure it will look amazing. 

"Today was a good day. I really wanted this pole position, because I know it‘s important for us for the race." 

Quartararo has worked a lot by himself throughout the weekend, but following qualifying, the championship leader was asked whether he could make a gap in the race given the long straight and Ducati’s speed. 

"I hope to make a great start and then we will see, because I ride alone this weekend. I made a few overtakes but it’s not easy," added Quartararo. 

"Most of all with the Suzuki we will not struggle more, but yes, we know with the KTM and Ducati on the straight is difficult. 

"But it’s like that and we know that here and Barcelona is not going to be easy, but I will do my best for tomorrow." 

The big news that came out of qualifying day was the horrible Moto3 crash involving Jason Dupasquier. The latest updates are that Dupasquier is in a very serious condition. 

Quartararo took the opportunity to dedicate his pole lap to the Swiss rider, by saying: "I want to dedicate this pole to Jason Dupasquier, who had a really bad crash earlier today. I hope that he‘s okay. I‘m praying for him and his family."