Phillip Island has posed significant challenges for Fabio Quartararo in the past. Last year marked the first time Quartararo completed a race at this venue, as he finished 14th in the rescheduled race. Previously, Quartararo crashed in both the 2019 and 2022 Australian races.

Despite securing strong qualifying positions for those two races, starting second and fifth on the grid, he struggled last year, qualifying 17th. Before entering MotoGP, Quartararo’s best result was a tenth-place finish in the Moto2 and Moto3 categories.

This track may not be the most favorable for Quartararo as he seeks to resolve ongoing issues with rear grip and fuel shortages. On a positive note, the Phillip Island races have been competitive, with Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and Ducati all claiming victories in the past four events.

“After the Japanese GP, I went to Bali to enjoy the sun, relax, and train for the upcoming races. Staying in a similar time zone helped minimize jet lag because being 100% fit is crucial during triple headers,” Quartararo explained. “The season is speeding by; there are only four races left, and we have a lot to accomplish.”

Quartararo expressed hope for a normal and complete race weekend in Australia, recognizing the enthusiastic atmosphere brought by the fans.

Currently sitting in 13th in the championship standings, Quartararo is three places and 48 points behind his ranking at this stage of last season, although he holds a 50-point advantage over the leading Honda rider, Zarco.

Teammate Rins, a former Phillip Island winner who was sidelined last year due to a leg injury, has stood on the podium three times at this track.

“After a week off, we’re eager to get back to racing. I have positive memories of Phillip Island; it suits my style, so let’s see what we can achieve,” said Rins, who expressed disappointment over his 16th-place finish in Japan.

“We definitely have a lot to improve on. We hope for favorable weather conditions to focus on bike development,” he added. Rins, who missed two mid-season rounds due to injury, is currently ranked 19th in the championship.