Let's talk MotoGP: Here's what nobody dares to say about Fabio Quartararo

It's time for the season debrief. As every winter for the past two years, this column analyzes each rider's campaign in detail, from the lowest-ranked to the world champion. The aim is to provide a reasoned perspective on the performance of each of our heroes, so we can all discuss it together. Are you ready for this new installment, dedicated to Fabio Quartararo? Let's go!

Yesterday's episode was dedicated to Raul Fernandez; you can find it by clicking here.

 

A year to remember…

 

Much like with Johann Zarco, it's quite difficult to analyze Fabio Quartararo's 2025 campaign.On the one hand, the Frenchman has shown incredible speed, and even managed to snatch five pole positions, four of them against one of the best Marc Marquez of all time. That's no small feat. Frankly, in qualifying, very few in history can compete with "El Diablo".

 

 

On the other hand, the results were also satisfactory. He performed at the right time, and while he was less efficient than in 2023 when he didn't waste a single opportunity, he still demonstrated extreme consistency, very good pace, and an ability to bounce back on an exceptional weekend. Many times, We saw him struggle on Friday, then gain momentum and finally secure a good position on Sunday.

In terms of achievements, it's limited to one Sunday podium and two top-three finishes in Sprint, which is rather meager, really, but he often hovered around the top five with, de facto, the worst bike on the grid if we stick to the numbers. He finishes this year ninth, far, far ahead of his rivals, with 201 points, quite close to Fermin Aldeguer's 214, who finished eighth. Personally, I had him finishing 11th, barely lower. I wasn't really wrong about him, although making it into the top 10 still makes a difference.

So yes, this year is one to remember, because it's undoubtedly her best since 2022, and her speed really impressed me. Even though it's debatable, I also really appreciated her aggressive communication, her confidence, and her charisma. These are the factors that create an athlete's legend, and unfortunately, too few athletes dare to assert their status like he does.Personally, I was also a fan of Jorge Lorenzo, because he knew how to season his interviews with a little touch of well-placed arrogance, like Quartararo does nowadays.

 

… but is that really Fabio Quartararo's objective?

 

If I stick to the verdict of the track, taking into account his equipment, his development, and his speed, then yes, it was a satisfactory year. I would have congratulated a Fermin Aldeguer or an Enea Bastianini for a season like that. but this is QuartararoI think he's wasting his career at Yamaha; I can't put it any better. Fabio, who is only 26 years old at the time of writing, has already spent three of his best years (from 2023 to 2025) making do with mediocre equipment, improvising, trying to salvage what he could, and finding solutions. During those three years, with a very good bike, He might have been able to play up front.

Although my article detailing my regrets about this decision caused controversy at the time of his contract extension with Yamaha, I can't help but believe that I was right. Just imagine where he would be with Aprilia, instead of BezzecchiOf course, the Yamaha project was a selling point, and I myself hadn't thought the Iwata firm could plan such an ambitious development for 2026. But history teaches us: the best riders are in the best place at the best time. Promises only delay success. Ask Fernando Alonso what he thinks; he's undoubtedly the best example in modern history, having consistently made the wrong choice when signing contracts, even though he had the opportunity to go anywhere. Also ask Sébastien Ogier, who, without a manager, managed to "feel" the right seats after his Citroën period in the WRC.

I'm sorry, but I can't be satisfied with seeing a talent like Quartararo only playing in the top 10 of the championship. MotoGPNeither did he, for that matter, and his irritation during this season betrayed this feeling. He reminds me a lot of Charles Leclerc in Formula 1.

 

The theory that no one dares to mention

 

Now comes the time to broach a subject that no one dares to discuss. It's a thought I've been nurturing for a few weeks now. Imagine that Fabio Quartararo, in reality, may not be as good as it is claimed to beIt seems crazy, because for years you've heard people tell you he would be world champion on a Ducati. But take the example of Brad Binder, whom I mentioned a few days ago.

 

 

When Binder arrived at KTM, he was considered a prodigy. For several seasons, he completely dominated the competition within the Austrian garage. But who else made up the ranks of the Mattighofen-based firm? Miguel Oliveira? Augusto Fernandez? Jack Miller? An aging Pol Espargaro? When Pedro Acosta arrived, what happened to Brad Binder? He fell from his pedestal.

When you think about it, Quartararo is the only top-level rider at Yamaha for a long time, a very long time indeed: You have to go back to Maverick Vinales at the beginning of the 2021 season to find a rider capable of establishing himself alongside him in a lasting way, and even then: we know the chronic inconsistency of "Top Gun". Who did Quartararo dominate? An average Franco Morbidelli after his injury, Darryn Binder, an Andrea Dovizioso at the end of his career, Alex Rins and Miguel Oliveira also at the end, both plagued by injuries, and, finally, a Jack Miller out of breath (look at his results since mid-season 2023).

I'm not saying Quartararo wouldn't dominate stronger riders with equal equipment, but factually, we've never been able to see it. I've seen comparisons here and there between his situation at Yamaha and Pedro Acosta's at KTM. Indeed, they both crush their teammates on machines inferior to the Ducati. But Quartararo's teammates are Miller, Oliveira, and Rins, while Acosta's are Binder, Bastianini, and Viñales. Don't you see a difference?

This is just a theory that I'm putting forward, and besides, I don't completely believe itIn particular, because Quartararo is a world champion; he's shown he can fight at the front, that he has the mettle to handle that status. And besides, his speed remains impressive, teammates or not. I'm simply saying that Yamaha, through its choices, has never allowed us to compare Quartararo to a rider of his caliber. I'll keep that in the back of my mind.Because who can predict the verdict of the future?

What do you think of my theory? Is it completely far-fetched? Tell us in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport