Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) at the pit exit in Jerez de la Frontera almost 2 weeks ago, with a wonderful “stoppie” – the Frenchman feels well-prepared, but on a wet track he is definitely an outsider on his home track.

Some rider voices from the press conference

Pecco Bagnaia: “Everything is fine with me, we have to take it race after race, which also applies to here at Le Mans. I like the track a lot, but last year I had problems in the second part of the race. As the forecast looks, it will be wet, like 2020. It is very difficult to predict what will happen in the rain. In any case, I feel comfortable with the Ducati and very well-prepared.“

Jack Miller: „The result was very positive in Jerez, which makes it all the more hungry for more. We are well-prepared for all conditions. I had already won here in Moto3 and I like the track. It looks like we have a good chance of making the podium with our package.“

Fabio Quartararo: „Jerez was obviously very frustrating in the race when you got the pace, but it gets more and more difficult. When you feel that it is hardly possible to brake properly, and you cannot get through the race. Now I’m all the more confident about this weekend. I am now looking forward to experiencing the bike on a wet track. It looks like it should stay permanently wet, which is more of an advantage for me to be consistent and to develop a good feeling. Regardless of how you train, there are races almost every two weeks, so I can be happy with my problem in Jerez, we have made arrangements for this with the OP so that this problem doesn’t bother us any more. The track here is good for Ducati, but also for the Yamaha. For us, Mugello will probably be the most difficult in the last 3 races. Of course, I prefer it to be drier than when it is wet.“

Shortly before the start of the press conference on Thursday evening in Le Mans, with from left Fabio Quartararo, Franco Morbidelli (both Yamaha), Pecco Bagnaia, Jack Miller, Johann Zarco (all Ducati) and Takaaki Nakagami as the only Honda driver.

Johann Zarco: „Ducati’s results with Jack and Pecco in Jerez were very good. I am happy to have a good package. The last race wasn’t particularly fun for me. But one has to tick this off and look forward. It was a good start, and it would be nice if we could all make it to the podium with the Ducati. The most difficult part for me is the first chicane at Le Mans.“

Franco “Morbido” Morbidelli: „The podium felt great in Jerez. After this good result, my expectations have risen a little again. Together with my crew, I am now trying to improve continuously in order to be able to achieve results that are as good as in 2020. I’ve never been particularly fast in the rain. A podium was my biggest win on a wet track, but for some reason it’s not the best conditions for me.“

Takaaki Nakagami: „After the heavy crash in Portimão and the problems in Losail, it was a relief to see how well things finally went in Jerez. It’s good that we’re more riders now than before and that gives more information, which is very helpful in the further development of the bike. The test after the race in Jerez was positive. I didn’t have a lot of things to test, Stefan Bradl usually does that for us. Only then do I try what he thinks is good. I am satisfied with the package of our bike.“

Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) – at the race for the Spanish Grand Prix in Andalusia, the Japanese embarrassed the two works drivers and the test driver almost two weeks ago, even though he had done countless laps there for Honda tests. Messrs Marquez and Espargaró will have to hurry to Le Mans to wipe out this gap. Alex Marquez was the driver who made the breakthrough here last year.

The schedule for the Le Mans weekend

>For more information on the Le Mans GP, see the preliminary report on this page.

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