Quartararo senses ‘big opportunity’ for 2020 MotoGP title bid amid Dovizioso woe

Fabio Quartararto admits Sunday’s Catalunya MotoGP is likely to be a pivotal moment in his 2020 MotoGP World Championship title aspirations as he looks to get his fledgling bid back on track.

A winner in the opening two rounds of the season in Jerez, Quartararo hasn’t stepped onto the podium since but remains only a single point off Dovizioso in the standings, with Maverick Vinales and Joan Mir also within four points of the top.

However, it is Quartararo that starts on the front row in second tomorrow, with Vinales fifth, Mir eighth and - crucially - Dovizioso way down in 17th position after struggling to get the inconsistent Ducati dialled in. 

With the Italian feeling no more confident about his chances in the race, Quartararo senses this could be looked back upon as an important moment in the title fight.

“Every moment is the best moment to make a victory but it is tru tomorrow is a great opportunity and our pace is good, so I will give my best to right for the victory, “ he said.

“But it is a long time since I have been on the podium so if I see an opportunity to win I will go for it. If I am too much on the limit and it is not possible [to go faster] then I will secure the best result possible.

“I’m really happy because the most important thing is to be on the front row and we achieved our goal. Today Franco was really fast - I expect him to be fast in qualifying but not that fast, but I am happy with the second position and the pace looks good.

“The key with our bike is to make a good start and be in the first positions of lap one, but we have four Yamahas in the first six (it’s actually five) positions so I am really happy about these two front rows and let’s try and make the best of it on Sunday.”