Quartararo: We know exactly what our goal is
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Fabio Quartararo insists he won’t change his approach, or adjust his target beyond the 2019 MotoGP rookie of the year crown, despite a debut podium last time in Barcelona.The Petronas Yamaha rider’s runner-up finish to Marc Marquez – from a second pole position of the season – means he now has more than double the points of next best rookie Joan Mir (Suzuki).But Quartararo is also now just two points from Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) for sixth in the overall standings and top satellite honours, the target expected of more experienced team-mate Franco Morbidelli.”We go to Assen motivated after the great result from Barcelona, but we have to keep calm and continue working as we have been so far,” said Quartararo, who finally suffered a first MotoGP fall in Catalunya, after 1402 laps and 6,871.92km without a on a MotoGP bike.”We know exactly what our goal is, which is to be Rookie of the Year, so we shouldn’t lose sight of this and keep going step by step.”If we continue working like this, I’m sure that we will enjoy further success, such as the pole and victory we got at the Catalan GP. We had a positive test in Barcelona, so we go to the Netherlands enthusiastic about things.”Adding to his optimism ahead of this weekend is that Quartararo has recovered further strength since the pre-Barcelona arm pump surgery, while Assen is the only circuit where he finished on the podium in both Moto3 and Moto2.Indeed, last year’s second place finish in the intermediate class – hot on the heels of his only grand prix victory in Barcelona – effectively sealed this year’s MotoGP seat.”I’ve recovered further from my right forearm operation. Assen is a circuit that I like, I’ve achieved two podiums there, and I’m looking forward to a good weekend,” Quartararo said.Morbidelli also qualified on the front row last time out, only to fall in the race. However the Italian, who rides the team’s factory-spec M1, returned to set the second fastest time at the Monday test, when Quartararo was fourth.”The last two Grands Prix have ended with a bad final result, but with us having a good feeling – especially in Barcelona where we took another front row start. In addition, we were very fast at last week’s test, so we are feeling good about the Dutch GP,” Morbidelli said.” I hope that the things we tried out will be useful for the race on Sunday. Assen is a circuit where I typically go well, and in 2017 I won there, so I can’t wait for the weekend to start. The main objective is to complete the race with a good result, which allows us to pick up a large number of important points for the overall standings.”Morbidelli, who won at Assen on the way to the 2017 Moto2 title, is presently twelfth in the world championship.
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