‘Marquez has utter determination’
Valentino Rossi, Maverick Viñales and Franco Morbidelli heaped praise on Fabio Quartararo after the rookie sensation simply outclassed his Yamaha co-riders in Thailand.
In the end, Quartararo had a last lap heartache against Marc Marquez in Buriram for the second time in the last three races. But just like at Misano last month the 20-yearold Frenchman was the standout performer for Yamaha and again comprehensively defeated Rossi, who suffered rear grip issues on his way to a lowly eighth.
Rossi said: “I expected he would be strong this season because he was already fantastic when he was 15. But he is doing something special and I didn’t expect it. I don’t think anybody expected it. He is fast, doesn’t make mistakes and he can be very strong in the future. I think next year everyone will try and get Quartararo on their bike. If they’re not crazy, Yamaha will do everything to keep Fabio in 2021.” Assessing his own performance, Rossi emerged from a lengthy technical debrief with Yamaha technicians to say: “I have the same problems as the last races. After some laps I suffer with rear grip. I lose performance and must slow down. It was another difficult race.” Rossi’s factory Yamaha teammate Maverick Viñales took his sixth podium in the last eight races to take third but also couldn’t match Quartararo’s blistering speed. He said: “He is understanding the bike very well and riding superbly. We have to understand how he rides because we must improve a lot, particularly with rear traction where he is very strong.” Petronas SRT Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli has spent most of 2019 in the shadow of his young teammate and yet another excellent top six went largely unnoticed because of Quartararo’s brilliance.
The Italian said: “I’m doing a good job but Fabio is doing something incredible. His speed is more of a stimulation than an irritation.”
‘If they’re not crazy Yamaha will do everthing to keep Fabio in 2021’