MotoGP, Fabio Quartararo talks about the possibility of going to Honda in 2023

He realized his first dream, Fabio Quartararo. Becoming MotoGP World Champion. And he did it with that Yamaha which for 16 seasons was the bike of his idol, Valentino Rossi. Who did poker with Iwata. “We took a first step, but my goal is to do like Valentino”, Quartararo does not hide. That even for that title won at Misano Adriatico he will be together with Francesco Bagnaia and, everyone hopes, Marc Marquez, one of the most anticipated protagonists of 2022.

Fabio, the Italian fans like her very much.
“I’m happy because when I signed with the factory Yamaha I was afraid of this. Not to take the place of Valentino, because you can’t take the place of someone like this, but with the exchange of teams between me and him I was a bit afraid about how the Italian fans would react. Instead, I am very happy to see that they are also cheering for me ”.

Are you starting to understand what it means to spend a winter as a world champion? Is it very stressful?
“No, it’s less stressful for now. Because for me this is a dream that few riders can realize, because in the end the number of those who have become MotoGP world champions is very small. So, having already succeeded for me is one less pressure, I know that repeating myself will be difficult, but the important thing is to have understood how to do it “.

You will be able to go on vacation this winter, but those who cannot do it are the Yamaha engineers.
“That’s right, they have to work seven days a week, 24 hours a day. We have a lot of work to do, I’ve already put some pressure on them. It is very important to work well, because we also saw it in Valencia, on a circuit that was very positive for us in the end the podium was all red, so there is something to fix ”.

Are you afraid of Ducati because of the progress it has made?
“Yes, they have taken a big step, but I always say that they also have riders, and having so many fighting together is a very positive thing. Between riders fighting in front and the bike that has grown … ”.

Eight Ducatis to fight against in 2022 are many.
“I’m already starting to get my first white hair, but we have to believe in Yamaha and we hope to find some power next year to fight with a little less effort”.

What you are asking is what all the Yamaha riders have been asking the engineers in recent years: Rossi asked, Lorenzo asked … The answer has always been “yes, yes, yes”, but in reality they have always struggled a lot. find more power. Did he put the right pressure on them?
“I think yes. I hope they can do it for next year ”.

Almost all contracts expire at the end of 2022. Will the market open very soon as has happened in recent seasons?
“I don’t like talking about it so early, we are still in 2021 and we are already talking about 2023, 2024. I take my time. It’s not to wait, but I want to take one step at a time, it’s still too early to talk about what’s going to happen ”.

However, it is said that Honda, also due to the uncertainty of Marc Marquez’s physical condition, and also because it needs a second rider up to par, is on the hunt. We talk about Joan Mir, but we also talk a lot about Fabio Quartararo.
“We have options. Better to be in this situation than the opposite, to be without motion. It is very good to be in this situation, but as I said before, I don’t want to be rushed. I’ll take my time, let’s finish this 2021 in the meantime ”.

We are at Christmas and it is time for gifts. Who did you give the BMW won with pole positions to?
“I gave the one last year to my dad, this year’s one to my mom”.

What gift did you get yourself?
“An Italian car too, an Italian 4×4. It’s easy to guess ”. Good curves in the snow with the Lamborghini Urus, then.