Winner one year ago, Quartararo has been on the back foot since opening practice and was left 17th on the g🌸rid after failing ꦜto progress to Qualifying 2.

A close mo𝓡ment at turn one of the Sprint then left the former world champion ahead of only Joan Mir by the end of the opening lap. He could pass only two riders, the LCR Hondas of Takaaki Nakagami and Ikܫer Lecuona, by the chequered flag.

Although technical progress is difficult, having tried ‘🍒thousands of things’ with team-mate Franco Morbidelli finishing a few places ahead (15th) Quartararo ♑is also looking for improvements from his own riding style.

“More difficult than I expected. Especially to💟day,” Quartararo said. “I expected the grip to be better today but felt it was not the case. We suffered a lot. The riding style I have when it’s low grip conditions, it’s true that it’s difficult. I have to be a littlꦫe more smooth.

“Today oꦯn the start I tried to brake too late, made a mistake and was last, so… I made a mistake onꦰ the first lap but that wouldn’t have changed on the result more or less.”

“When the grip is low I’m always struggling more than Franco, like Argentina. I tried to ride a bit more smooth but I think tomorrow morning it will be good with one base and keep going and riding🎐 more or less smooth,” he added

“I try to override too much in these kinds of races. I trওy to brake later, try to go in faster but the 🧔bike doesn’t allow me to do those things. I’m doing mistakes and not riding smooth.

“Today was one of those days when I didn’t feel the bike and ဣme w🀅ere one.

“It’s a shame because all weekend we were trying thousands of things to find a solution but it’s 3 years that we ha🌌ve more or less the same bike and we know the base… W🐟e tried to find something that isn’t there.”

Fellow MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, whose Honda is also rarely able to challenge the best of the European bikes, said that he tries not to lꦏook at the re💖sults to avoid feeling frustrated.

“This is what I tried to do,” said Quartararo. “But in the end it’s not a matter or standings. To see people in front of you i🍌n two laps and🌄 [then] you don’t see any more. And I know my potential in this track, in general.

“But I h💖ave no power to fight with them. I cannot fight and this is frustrating.”