Quartararo: Mugello win “not a great feeling” after Dupasquier death
MotoGP Italian Grand Prix winner Fabio Quartararo admits his Mugello victory comes with “not a great feeling” following the tragic death of Moto3 racer Jason Dupasquier.
Swiss rider Dupasquier was involved in a horror accident in qualifying for the Moto3 class on Saturday at Mugello and had to be airlifted to hospital in Florence, where he was said to have been in a “very serious condition”.
Tragically, the 19-year-old succumbed to his injuries, with MotoGP confirming on Sunday morning that Dupasquier had passed away.
The MotoGP paddock held a minute of silence on the grid ahead of the 23-lap premier class race, with the riders carrying tributes to Dupasquier.
Quartararo dominated the Mugello race after an early crash for Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia, with the Yamaha rider easing to his third win of the season.
Dedicating his win to Dupasquier, Quartararo admits every time he passed through Arrabiatta 2 where the incident happened he was thinking of the young Swiss rider.
“Strange, strange day,” Quartararo said in parce ferme after the race.
“Honestly, [there was] a lot of emotions before starting the race.
“I get emotional really fast in every condition, so to start the race during that one minute of silence was really difficult and every time I cross Turn 9, I was thinking about Jason.
“This one is for him. Yes, in general it has been a good weekend for us.
“I also want to dedicate this one to my mum, which in France it’s mother’s day.
“It’s not a great feeling. You achieve a win, but we lose one of our friends. So, it’s not easy.”
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Quartararo continued to pay tribute to the late Dupasquier in muted podium celebrations after the race, with the Yamaha rider carrying a Swiss flag onto the rostrum.
Dupasquier’s death has been met with widespread messages of condolences from the motorsport world on social media.
Earlier in the day, Dupasquier’s Prustel GP team withdrew from the Moto3 race, while his fellow Swiss rider Tom Luthi pulled out of the Moto2 contest to be with Dupasquier on Sunday.
Quartararo now holds a 24-point lead in the championship standings heading to next weekend’s Catalan Grand Prix, with Johann Zarco now his nearest rival after finishing fourth at Mugello on his Pramac Ducati.
Related video
Italian MotoGP: Quartararo dominates to win at Mugello after Bagnaia crashes
Bastianini explains “crazy” Zarco Mugello MotoGP grid crash
How five metres led to "angry" Zarco being thrown out of Motegi MotoGP result
How five metres led to "angry" Zarco being thrown out of Motegi MotoGP result How five metres led to "angry" Zarco being thrown out of Motegi MotoGP result
Martin "wouldn't have won" wet Japan MotoGP race "thinking about championship"
Martin "wouldn't have won" wet Japan MotoGP race "thinking about championship" Martin "wouldn't have won" wet Japan MotoGP race "thinking about championship"
The hockey expansion rule that could benefit Andretti's F1 bid
The hockey expansion rule that could benefit Andretti's F1 bid The hockey expansion rule that could benefit Andretti's F1 bid
“Super-slow” Quartararo despondent after woeful Motegi MotoGP sprint
“Super-slow” Quartararo despondent after woeful Motegi MotoGP sprint “Super-slow” Quartararo despondent after woeful Motegi MotoGP sprint
Quartararo calls record 2024 MotoGP calendar length "the limit"
Quartararo calls record 2024 MotoGP calendar length "the limit" Quartararo calls record 2024 MotoGP calendar length "the limit"
Why Yamaha has just six months to safeguard its MotoGP champion's future
Why Yamaha has just six months to safeguard its MotoGP champion's future Why Yamaha has just six months to safeguard its MotoGP champion's future
Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership
Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership
How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell
How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell
FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26
FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26 FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26
WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future
WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future
Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP?
Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP? Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP?
The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing for the better
The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing for the better The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing for the better
The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form
The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form
How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team
How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team
How one MotoGP team went from title fights to losing it all in four years
How one MotoGP team went from title fights to losing it all in four years How one MotoGP team went from title fights to losing it all in four years
Is MotoGP's comeback king ready to reclaim his throne?
Is MotoGP's comeback king ready to reclaim his throne? Is MotoGP's comeback king ready to reclaim his throne?
How MotoGP’s underachiever is working to reverse its fortunes in 2023
How MotoGP’s underachiever is working to reverse its fortunes in 2023 How MotoGP’s underachiever is working to reverse its fortunes in 2023
How MotoGP riders are preparing for the physical stress of sprint races
How MotoGP riders are preparing for the physical stress of sprint races How MotoGP riders are preparing for the physical stress of sprint races
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.