A bike capable of winning is Fabio Quartararo’s top priority with a view to MotoGP 2023: A contract extension is currently not an issue for the World Champion
Yamaha was unable to accommodate Fabio Quartararo’s desire for more top speed in the winter of 2021/2022. In the MotoGP season opener, Yamaha trailed behind.
Quartararo, who won one of the two races in Qatar last year, only finished in ninth position. Without the failures of some opponents, the world champion would not even have made it into the top 10. The contract extension is therefore moving into the distant future.
Manager Eric Mahe spoke about the future of his protégé during the season opener in Qatar. “We had a discussion with Yamaha at the end of last season about the technical development. For reasons I can’t go into, it doesn’t look as promising as we expected,” Mahe, speaking to ‘Canal+’, expressed his disillusionment with Yamaha’s progress.
“We are already looking at 2023 and what can be done from a technical point of view. At the moment there is no rush. But four riders have already decided,” the Quartararo manager notes, commenting on Suzuki’s interest: “As Livio said, Fabio has an interesting profile.”
Before making a decision, the MotoGP champion’s manager wants to hear what Yamaha has to offer. “Yamaha tells us what they are planning for the future. And once they tell us, we will think about the future,” Mahe explained.
The Quartararo manager is not putting any pressure on himself regarding the timing of the contract extension. “I don’t have a deadline in mind. The important thing is that we understand what will happen in the future at Yamaha. Then we will see what happens with the others,” said the Frenchman.
Quartararo himself has only one big goal for 2023: the reigning MotoGP champion wants a bike with which he can ride at the top. “My biggest priority is to win races. I want to make sure I have the best bike. That’s very important for the future, it’s the most important thing for me,” stressed the Yamaha factory rider.
