Quartararo to gauge forearm feeling after FP1

Fabio Quartararo says he’ll assess the condition of his right forearm after the opening practice session at the German MotoGP as he remains optimistic of another strong showing for Petronas Yamaha.

The MotoGP rookie has claimed back-to-back pole positions and podiums since undergoing arm pump surgery on his right forearm in between the Italian and Catalan rounds, while he also had treatment to drain fluid from his forearm in the build-up to the Dutch round as a precaution.

Despite suffering during the Assen race, taking action from mid-race distance to rest is forearm in the more forgiving left-hand corners and needing ice packs after each session, Quartararo says he’s hopeful of enduring any pain from his forearm at the more forgiving Sachsenring but will gauge his physical condition around the German track after FP1.

“I struggled from mid-race to the end [at Assen] and on my arm to have back-to-back races is not the best for recovery,” Quartararo conceded. “But here it is a track that is almost all left corners. In Assen we took some rest in these kind of corners.

“I think we will need to check after the first practice how the arm feels but I hope that it will be okay and I think it will be okay.”

Quartaaro is also optimistic his satellite Yamaha will suit Sachsenring given the Japanese manufacturer’s strong showing at the circuit in recent years. Last season the factory Yamaha duo of Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales both claimed podium finishes, while Jonas Folger battled for victory against Marc Marquez on satellite machinery in the wet 2017 race.

“I looked at the last few years of races here for MotoGP and it looks like the Yamaha is working well at this track,” he said. “I think in all the tracks we’ve been to the bike has been working really well so I expect the same at this track.”