FABIO QUARTARARO FRANCE ’ S FIRST MotoGP™ CHAMPION
You ’ d be hard pressed to find anyone in the MotoGP™ paddock that felt Fabio Quartararo wasn ’ t a deserving MotoGP™ champion . The Frenchman has enjoyed a brilliant season , racking up five wins and five further podiums and was crowned champion with two races to spare .
His numbers are impressive . This success meant he became France ’ s first premier class champion , and , at 22 years and 187 days , the sixth youngest of all time . Only Marc Marquez , Freddie Spencer , Casey Stoner , Mike Hailwood and John Surtees were younger .
Speaking after the race , Quartararo said the key was Yamaha ’ s ability to find an ideal setting which allowed him to brake late , and turn quickly in a manner to his liking . “ Last year we fought to have the factory bike , but the ’ 19 bike was better ,” said the 22-year old after wrapping up the title at the Emilia Romagna GP . “ But with the ’ 21 , I felt much better . The feeling on the front is what helped me win this year . We know that the power is something that we need to work , but the feeling I have on the braking to overtake has been much higher than ’ 19 and ’ 20 .”
Another key factor in his success was Fabio ’ s social skills . Team manager Massimo Meregalli has admired the ambience he has created , along with crew chief Diego Gubellini and data technician Pablo Guilliem , who both stepped up to the factory team at the end of last year . “ He brought some happiness in the garage ,” said Meregalli . “ From the end of last year to now he didn ’ t change . He has always been humble , happy and polite . In my opinion he has the quality , in his own way , he created a group and he is able to get 100 % from the people that are working from him . And I only saw this quality in Valentino before .”
16 | MotoGP TM | Fabio Quartararo- France ’ s First MotoGP™ World Champion