Fabio Quartararo is recognised as one of the top riders in MotoGP today, but that wasn’t always the case when he first stepped into the premier class.
In his four seasons across Moto2 and Moto3, Quartararo managed just one win and four podium finishes, never placing higher than 10th in the overall standings.
He was overshadowed by names like Fabio Di Giannantonio, Brad Binder, Enea Bastianini, Franco Morbidelli, Miguel Oliveira and Luca Marini during those early years. Even so, SRT—a now-defunct Yamaha satellite team—decided to take a chance on him in 2019.
The 2021 season marked a high point for Quartararo when he became World Champion after three races, finishing ahead of Francesco Bagnaia by 26 points.
No one could have foreseen what Fabio Quartararo would become
On The Race MotoGP podcast, journalist Valentin Khorounzhiy mentioned that SRT had included a clause giving Quartararo just 10 races to score a single point. If he hadn’t managed it, his contract would have been voided.
The Frenchman made his debut at the Qatar GP in March, but he could have been dropped after the Czech GP in early August. Fortunately, Quartararo finished eighth on just his second outing at the Argentine GP. Further points finishes followed in the US, France and Italy before his maiden podium in Barcelona.
Quartararo moved up to fifth by the end of the season, finishing ahead of factory rider Valentino Rossi. Maverick Vinales was still Yamaha’s top scorer that year, while Franco Morbidelli finished further down the order.
Khorounzhiy explained: “We’ve had him tell you Simon [Patterson] that his contract included a void clause after 10 races if he didn’t score points. So clearly nobody had any idea what was going to happen.”
Fortunately for him, an eighth-place finish at the Argentine GP in just his second race helped ease those concerns early on. Consistent point finishes followed before he earned his first podium with a second place in Barcelona.
It’s expected to be an uneasy farewell despite fond memories of their 2021 title together. Tensions have grown recently, with Quartararo increasingly vocal about Yamaha’s struggles since their last win back in mid-2022.
Next season will bring a completely new factory line-up for Yamaha, with Ai Ogura expected to join Jorge Martin as part of their fresh start.
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