Yamaha parts boost for fast Quartararo
Yamaha rookie to get upgrade after mixing with Marquez again
Rookie zeroes in on his first MotoGP win
Fabio Quartararo insists his primary goal next year in MotoGP is NOT to break the domination of now six-time champion Marc Marquez. Marquez, along with a host of top riders, has backed the 20-year-old Frenchman to emerge as a serious title contender in 2020 in the wake of a series of sensational performances as a rookie this year.
But Quartararo himself is now trying to calm the hype that is gathering around him ahead of next season – despite almost gatecrashing Marquez’s world title party in Buriram.
Boosted by an engine upgrade at the Chang International Circuit that saw his Petronas SRT Yamaha benefit from an additional 500rpm, Quartararo almost piloted his M1 to a maiden win. His bold but ultimately failed overtaking manouvere at the final corner was the culmination of an enthralling race-long duel with Marquez as, for the second time in three races, he demonstrated that he’s the only rider currently capable of taking the fight to the dominant Spaniard. Afterwards, Marquez again tipped Quartararo as potentially his toughest opponent next season but the Frenchman responded with characteristic modesty. “I’m arriving step-by-step and our goal is to challenge him (Marquez) in the future because my goal is to be world champion,” he told MCN.
“This is my rookie year so I will feel more prepared next season. I will try to challenge him (Marquez) but it’s still not my main goal to fight for the championship.” Sunday’s defeat in Thailand was even tougher for Quartararo than his similar, last gasp defeat by Marquez in Misano last month. And while the star from Nice on the French Riviera had understandably mixed emotions about coming up just 0.171s short his latest headline-grabbing performance still earned him rave reviews from the world’s media. He added: “I can only be proud of my race. I was challenging the eight-time world champion at the last corner of the last lap like I was in Misano – but this one was really close. I was first in the last corner and I tried to stop the bike but it was not possible. My brain was switched off and I told myself if I didn’t try I wouldn’t sleep for two weeks until Japan.” Quartararo’s latest outstanding ride seems certain to secure him a full factory M1 in 2020 and Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis dropped a huge hint in Buriram that he will start next season on the same spec M1 as factory trio Valentino Rossi, Maverick Viñales and Franco Morbidelli.
Jarvis said: “I know what is happening and we have a good plan for him. I think it will be made official in the next two or three weeks.”