RideFast Magazine March 2020

PADDOCK NEWS
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QUARTARARO JOINS VINALES
IN FACTORY YAMAHA
MOTOGP LINE-UP
MotoGP rookie sensation Fabio
Quartarsro will join Maverick Vinales in
the Monster Yamaha team for 2021-2022.
In his debut year, the 20-year old from
Nice, France, scored seven podiums with
Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team,
which at the time was a brand-new
Yamaha satellite team.
He came tantalizingly close to his
first premier class win on a number of
occasions. Though it wasn’t to be, his
exceptional performances impressed
many in 2019. Ultimately, he secured fifth
place in the overall MotoGP standings,
earning him the Best Independent Team
Rider honour by 27 points, as well as the
Rookie of the Year title with a 100-point
margin to the runner-up.
“I’m delighted about what my
management has achieved in the last
few months together with YMC. It was
not simple to establish, but now I have
a clear plan for the next three years and
I’m really happy,” said Quartararo.
I will work hard, like I did last year, and
I’m extremely motivated to achieve great
performances.
“I feel like the winter period is too long –
I’m really excited to go to the Sepang test
next week to ride my new YZR-M1 and
meet and work with my crew again.
“I want to thank YMC and PETRONAS
Yamaha Sepang Racing Team, who have
given me the opportunity to enter the
MotoGP class in 2019. I will give my all to
do them proud again this year.”
Yamaha Racing managing director Lin
Jarvis added: “We are very pleased that
Fabio will be joining the Yamaha Factory
Racing MotoGP Team line-up for 2021
and 2022.
“His results in his MotoGP debut year
were sensational. His 6 pole positions
and the 7 podiums in the 2019 season
were a clear sign of his brilliance and
exceptional riding skills. Inviting him to
move up to the Yamaha Factory Racing
Team after he completes his contract
with Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing
Team was a logical next step.
“For the upcoming season he will be
provided with a factory-spec YZR-M1 and
he will receive full support from Yamaha.
“Fabio is only 20 years old, but he is
already showing great maturity on and
off the bike, and we are excited to have
him join us in 2021.
“Fabio and Maverick will provide a big
stimulus to all of us in the Yamaha
Factory Racing MotoGP Team to continue
to develop the YZR-M1 and leave no
stone unturned in our quest for MotoGP
World Championship victories.”
Pic by GP Fever.de
ROSSI’S FUTURE
MOTOGP PLANS
PUT ON HOLD.
Valentino Rossi’s plans for his MotoGP
future have been put on hold after Yamaha
signed Fabio Quartararo to the factory team
alongside Maverick Vinales.
It is believed The Doctor has an option to
simply do a swap with Quartararo but it is
doubtful he will have the motivation to run in
a non-factory team and is more likely to go
into car racing.
“For reasons dictated by the riders’ market,
Yamaha asked me at the beginning of the
year to make a decision regarding my future.
Consistent with what I said during the last
season, I confirmed that I didn’t want to rush
any decision and needed more time,” said Rossi.
“Yamaha has acted accordingly and
concluded the ongoing negotiations. It is clear
that after the last technical changes and with
the arrival of my new crew chief, my first goal
is to be competitive this year and to continue
my career as a MotoGP rider also in 2021.
“Before doing so, I need to have some
answers that only the track and the first
few races can give me. I’m happy that,
should I decide to continue, Yamaha is ready
to support me in all respects, giving me a
factory-spec bike and a factory contract.”
20 RIDEFAST MAGAZINE MARCH 2020