MotoGP star Quartararo’s body almost entirely bandaged after devastating crash
MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo was left battered and bandaged after he crashed out of the Aragon Grand Prix on Sunday.
Quartararo was hoping to stave off Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia in Spain, with the Frenchman entering the race holding a 30-point lead at the top of the world championship standings. However, the Yamaha man’s hopes were dashed as he was involved in a collision with Marc Marquez.
Six-time MotoGP world champion Marquez, who was racing for the first time since June, had gained seven places early in his return. However, the Spaniard backed off on the exit of Turn 3 to save a rear-wheel slide.
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As a result, Quartararo had no time to react and slammed into the back of the Honda. He was thrown along the road, suffering friction burns and abrasions to his chest after being hit by his own bike.
When asked how he was feeling, Quartararo said: “Sore and burned. It’s a shame because it’s the first time I felt good in Aragon for many years.
“Marc turned so well, but also had a slide. I had better traction, didn’t expect it and just hit the back [of him]. I don’t remember exactly the situation, but it’s a shame in just the third corner.”
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Quartararo – seventh at the time of his fall – felt he could have been in the group fighting for third to sixth. Enea Bastianini overtook Bagnaia to secure victory on the final lap.
Bagnaia had won the past four races and would have been just five points behind Quartararo had he won, but there is now an 11-point lead as Moto GP heads to Japan. It is the first time the championship has travelled to the country since 2019.
“Japan is a track I love,” Quartararo added. “Hopefully we can race there [despite the typhoon warnings] because many riders have not been in Japan on a MotoGP bike, like Bastianini.
“I feel Japan can be a good track for us because even if there is a lot of acceleration, there is also a lot of braking. That is our strong point. So hopefully Japan happens.”
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