It's official ! Álex Rins will join Fabio Quartararo on the Yamaha factory team in MotoGP next year. The Spanish rider will not have “benefited” much from the Honda package, but enough to score a victory under his belt. While we have already returned to the ins and outs of such a transfer (in an article that you can find by clicking here), today we will focus on the duel that awaits him against the French world champion.
The question is valid
This will surprise more than one person, but the question has to be. At the end of 2021, we imagined a Fabio Quartararo on the launch pad, ready to join the greatest of this sport. We had rarely seen such precocity, and above all, such a character in the paddock MotoGP. But it must be recognized; since mid-season 2022, it has been more than difficult for the Nice player. “El Diablo” endures his machine, is often distraught, angry, with his employer or disappointed with his teammate. On the track, this resulted in the loss of the world title while he enjoyed a net advantage of 91 points after the German Grand Prix. Never seen. This saddens us, but it is clear that the situation is even worse in 2023. Quarta' no longer makes the difference. He is only six points ahead of Franco Morbidelli at the end of the British GP, where he qualified last (!). Even if the YZR-M1 is not at the level of its European competitors, we feel a kind of weariness, of passivity regarding its situation when it should be the driving force of this team, the one who tries, who dares, who defines a direction to follow. This is the role of a “superstar” caliber factory driver.
On the other side, Álex Rins won against all odds in Austin. Everyone criticizes the Honda RC213V openly, he wins with. Even though he is currently injured, he is still one of the best drivers in the field. His arrival at Yamaha is more than expected, even if we had doubts about his ability to take his own team to another dimension. He had not achieved it in seven years at Suzuki, it would be very surprising if he achieved it in a few months with the blues. Still, he has the wind in his sails despite his absence, the proof; he goes from a satellite handlebar to a place with an official, and not the least.
Álex Rins has a quality that Fabio Quartararo does not have
Now that we've compared the two dynamics, let's get to the point. Let's put the two drivers face to face, their qualities and their faults. First of all, speed. On this point, we give the advantage to the French. Fabio Quartararo was formidable in qualifying, and already has 16 poles at the highest level, a completely underrated figure. In races, he is capable of showing very high pace, the majority of his victories coming from breakaways alone in the lead.
Then, regularity in performance, and falls. Although the two notions are different – and often confused, we bring them together because Fabio is above on both points. Truth be told, he's not great (his scoring average was relatively low in 2021), but those are Álex Rins' weaknesses. In addition to being often injured due to falls, he is capable of winning as well as finishing outside the top 10. As for the competitive aspect only, Fabio Quartararo is the best driver, we think none of you will disagree with us. Yes, but. Context is just as important, and there are two key points where Rins has the advantage.
The first is none other than adaptability. Since his debut in Moto3, Álex Rins has been fast, regardless of category, engine size, or team. He proved it again this year by winning on the Honda, but even if we exclude this surprise victory, two other top 10 finishes prove that he knows how to take advantage of the few qualities his mount offers him. This is not the case for Fabio, who depends much more on the performance of his package. As with Pecco Bagnaia, if his bike doesn't work, then it is very unlikely that he will build anything. This will weigh heavily on Yamaha, because against all expectations, the 2024 vintage should not be radically better. Unless we imagine a complete overhaul, we do not see the Iwata firm catching Ducati and even KTM in such a short time, the gap is too big at the moment T – and it is only growing. So, on an inside machine, we think that Álex Rins is capable of extracting more, and very quickly, as he demonstrated at the start of 2023 with a top 10 on his first Sunday outing.
Second, the ability to create strong moments. This is absolutely essential for a brand that is unlikely to play for the title. For this, the comparison fits perfectly with the official KTM team in 2022, with a less good bike. We see “El Diablo” in Brad Binder, very often, or at least regular, with good performances at times. He was the best driver on the team, without much doubt. On the other hand, Álex Rins risks playing Miguel Oliveira. Often in difficulty, but legendary in one or two races. Rins has already proven this time and time again; he has a form of genius which cannot be explained, but which was seen at Phillip Island last year, or at Silverstone in 2019 against a golden version of Marc Márquez. With all due respect, we do not think Fabio Quartararo capable of generating such strong moments, particularly from a negative dynamic.
The Frenchman has won 11 times in the premier category. Which performance was truly remarkable? Portimão 2022, seven seconds ahead ? Without a doubt. In truth, all of his great exploits come mostly from solitary breakthroughs; in fact, we hardly remember it. Rins has fewer, but they are more identifiables. So, Quartararo is not going to slow down to create suspense, that's obvious, but that's how it is, that's the injustice of sport. Surprised, you think: but doesn't just the place in the championship determine the quality of a driver? No, not in the eyes of history and above all, of collective memory.
If Álex Rins finishes behind Fabio Quartararo by winning two races at the end of the effort compared to zero for the Nice native, then he will have won the duel. Firstly because Quartararo has been there longer, so we will be waiting for him in front in the general. Then, because nothing, except a world title, is above a Grand Prix victory. And given that Yamaha won't be able to fight for the crown (barring a huge turnaround), that's what we'll remember too. Great moments make and break a season, not fifth places.
Conclusion
Clearly, we think that Fabio Quartararo is a better driver, but that Álex Rins has a chance of having a better season, even in his first year with the blues.. We haven't talked about mentality, because it's difficult to judge when a driver isn't fighting for the title. Impossible to say if this makes the difference in seventh position. Álex's adaptability and his strokes of genius can, in a certain sense, eclipse Quartararo without even thinking about the pure accounting aspect.
And you, who do you see having the most memorable season? Tell us in the comments!
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport