Zarco sets top speed record, speeds too dangerous? MotoGP riders react

The fastest lap ever in Qatar set by Francesco Bagnaia during today’s MotoGP qualifying was not the only record to fall in the desert. 

Fellow Ducati rider Johann Zarco set a new all time top speed record, reaching 225.1 mph on the kilometer long straight during FP4. 

Astonishing speeds by the quickest motorcycles in the world. 

With prototype machines there will always come incredible speeds and several riders were asked about this following Zarco’s achievement and if these speeds are two dangerous.

Here are some of the responses which include pole sitter Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi. 

Francesco Bagnaia: "If we touch the 360kph here then it is difficult to think about Mugello and San Donato at 360kph. I think in this lap Johann went wide because for sure with a lot of speed you don’t know where to brake with this speed. 

"I don’t think it is more dangerous, because we are seated on like a futuristic bike and everything we have is the best." 

Fabio Quartararo: "Today is the first time I went over 350kph. I have not reached 360kph but from my point of view the most important part is when you go from 80 to 300. 

"Then when you are already at 300 and go to 330 there is not much difference. I think that we have all the capacity to go faster. We will see in 2021 if we can do 360 with the Yamaha."

Maverick Vinales: "Well I think now we also have great tyres, with the Michelin tyres, so I think there is a lot of safety. As Pecco said, we will see in Mugello.

"If we are reaching these speeds here in Qatar, then in Mugello I don’t know what is possible, but anyway I think everything is safe and the track is wide and as I mentioned the tyres are working well."

Valentino Rossi: "I think that this year the combination of Zarco and the Ducati, the speed record will be broken because the Ducati is impressive and Zarco is very good to stay in the cowling in the straight, because he's small and always very aerodynamic. So I think that if they already break the record here in Qatar, in Mugello they can also go faster. 

"About the danger, for me already after 330 is very dangerous. So 330 or 360 is already an incredible number! I think that all the motorsport fans are very excited for these numbers, because it's impressive, but for sure this speed is dangerous."