The rise of Fabio Quartararo winning back-to-back MotoGP Rounds 1 and 2 over consecutive past weekends is meteoric. In only 2nd MotoGP season racing under Petronas Yamaha SRT, the 21 year old confirmed his ‘fast rising status’ proved insurmountable against his rivals taking pole and winning by gap of 4.495 seconds.
Notwithstanding the tough race conditions with track surface peaking at 63 degrees, Fabio mastered skills and race-craft techniques to maximize # 1 pole position to sustain pace ahead of fellow Yamaha Factory riders Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi who completed Brands hat-trick of podium finishes.
If open doors appear and test whether an athlete seizes the opportunity or not, then Fabio has set formidable target for when 4x World Champion Marc Marquez does return after injury in Opening Round.
With 50 points on table standings, Quartararo not only looks one-tough-2019 Rookie of the Year rider to beat, but also stands pride and place amongst Yamaha’s satellite Team, family, fans, close friends and home country- France.
#20: ‘”That one was tough. Normally we start with a new tyre on the grid but today we decided with Yamaha to make the warm up – three laps – to see if the tyre was ok. So happy, we made an amazing pace from the beginning to make the gap, change the mapping so fast. I was so happy because I made my pace, it was really tough. When I arrived at two seconds, to make four was so difficult.”‘
‘”I did make some mistakes today but small ones. It was so tough, to make 25-laps at the front with this temperature… I think it was the hardest race of my life, honestly. It was so hot, no air, my hand and my feet were so hot. So it was really difficult but honestly I felt really good on the bike.”‘
‘”What’s difficult in MotoGP is sometimes, when you finish a race in Moto is sometimes it’s one condition, then it’s another. From last week the condition was different, we need to adapt so quick. I think that’s the most difficult thing in Jerez.”‘ Courtesy of MotoGP.com.
From early in Fabio’s race career there have been indications of an athlete born to win. Desire, passion, unforgiving drive to push body to limits of performance- a combo for the elite as his legend Rossi confirms: ‘”Fabio is impressive this season. I knew he would be fast because he has already done something special at 15, but no-one thought he would be this fast. He makes no mistakes and could be really strong in future. He rides the Yamaha really well because he has a smooth style and is effective in terms of his braking.”‘
For certain, the move to race premier class in 2019 proved successful. Not just in terms of achieving 7 podiums, 5th Overall and ‘Rookie of the Year’ award- results gained Fabio contract to race Yamaha Factory Racing at beginning of 2021 season, replacing Rossi, along with factory supported bike for remaining 2020 season with Petronas Yamaha SRT.
Mighty impressive facts in the Frenchman’s race career adding to the list from MotoGP Rounds 1 and 2 at Gran Premio Red Bull Espana and the latter Andulucia last weekend. Fabio’s consecutive wins set precedent as first French winner in the premier class in 20 years, along with Yamaha’s first satellite rider to win MotoGP race.
Deemed Fabio ‘El Diablo’ Quartararo- taken from the fictional meaning of ‘the devil’ in Spanish, # 20 is pure fact- not fiction. Holding 10 point advantage in Championship standings over Vinales, Fabio has sent clear message to all – 2020 MotoGP season will be an opportunity not to be missed.
MotoGP Round 3: Monster Energy Czech Republic August 9th. Header photo courtesy: Falex79.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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