SEPANG: Former world champion Fabio Quartararo has had a poor season by his standards but believes he has enough pace to challenge for the podium at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia.
The Monster Energy Yamaha rider was seventh fastest in today's afternoon practice after clocking one minute and 58.399 seconds, and could have been even faster if he was not hindered by teammate Franco Morbidelli on one of his hot laps.
Quartararo, who has not been able to challenge the dominance of the Ducati riders this season, is maintaining a positive outlook.
"The expectation is to try and fight for the podium because I feel that the pace (I have) is really good," said the Frenchman today.
"Of course, there are many (fast) people, but I think we are in the top-five or top-six (positions). I think we still have room for improvement in some of the corners.
"I expect a great qualifying (session) and I hope to be on the first two rows of the grid. After that, it is a matter of what happens in the first lap and what happens with the pace and the tyres.
"To be honest, to be in the top-five would already be a really good result for us."
Quartararo, who won three races en route to finishing second overall last year, has yet to win one race this season but has scored three main race podiums.
He is ninth in the overall premier-class standings, a distant 244 points adrift of championship leader Francesco Bagnaia.
