Quartararo completes a very promising first MotoGP season … and the good French 20 improves with age !

As in Sepang, Fabio Quartararo started from pole position yesterday in Valencia. And this time, the French beginner managed to follow the Spanish world champion, Marc Marquez to the end! "El Diablo" thus confirms its status as second best rider in MotoGP… currently. Explanations.

Two weeks ago, Fabio Quartararo left Malaysia frustrated: the author of pole on the circuit – and in the furnace – of Sepang, the best rookie of the 2019 season in MotoGP would have loved to dedicate his very first victory in the premier class to the team who had the audacity to hire him last summer.

An excess of pressure in his front tire – and on his shoulders, no doubt too – had then prevented our "Fabio-lous" compatriot from playing for victory. He had never even been able to fight for the podium and was left out of the final Top 5…

• MNC special file :
• MNC special file :

Seventh in the penultimate race of his first season? This result would delight many rookie riders, especially when they take part in a championship as tough as MotoGP. Quartararo, however, is not one of them: he was – and had us! – used to much better lately.

Since his excusable silverstone blunder (for the record, a loss of the front in the first corner after being caught by a slip from Rins) and excluding his unfortunate crash at Phillip Island (due to his hard rear tire and – especially – to that of Petrucci!), the young man from Nice had climbed to the second step of the podium three times.

Having become addicted to Prosecco, our excellent "20 French" was therefore not entitled to his bottle at Sepang … But yesterday in Valence, Fabio was again able to slash the Champagne Italian sparkling wine after having fought against the six-time MotoGP champion, Marc Marquez.

The fastest driver in qualifying on the grounds of the official Honda n ° 93 (as in Jerez and Barcelona for that matter, "ole!"), Fabio could be proud on Saturday to equal Christian Sarron, a French driver who signed the most pole positions in the premier class: six, already !

As a "rookie" this time, our "Frenchie" was ranked second most prolific driver behind a certain Marc Marquez and his nine poles signed at his debut, in 2013 … When it comes to victories, however, Quartararo did not succeed to unlock his meter in Valence. And he suspected it…

Just after the MotoGP2019 final, "El Diablo" was remarkable for sincerity and confirmed Site’s fears: by Saturday, he knew he would not have the pace to compete with this devil Marc…

"Of course, you always have to believe in yourself and believe in victory", declared Fabio without much conviction, since "we knew yesterday that Marquez was far too strong compared to us, but I convinced myself that in the absence of victory , a second place would be really great and trying to be the first Yamaha would be a bonus for us. ".

It is known: the good French 20 improves with age

For the sixth time this season, the No. 20 of the satellite team Yamaha Petronas SRT was the first representative of the firm with three tuning forks at the end of the last race of the season. And for the fourth time (after Misano, Buriram and Motegi), he finished in Valencia in the wake of the unbeatable – or almost – HRC champion.

Site observes that this Sunday, the "Catalan ant" did not need to save its fuel: the RCV n ° 93 returned to the parc ferme on its own, even breaking through a few victorious "burns". Did Marc drive hard to triple the slim lead he had over Fabio at the halfway point? Mystery and Michelin balls…

Will having an official Yamaha next year enable Quartararo to close the gap that separates him today from the boss of the premier class of the motorcycle Grand Prix? No one, not even "Quarta", can comment on the issue. And tomorrow’s tests (Tuesday) will not clarify anything since it will not yet run on the M1 2020…

The French driver, however, can congratulate himself on his 2019 record and his "incredible end of the season". Over the last seven events and despite his white result in Australia (see the table at the bottom of the article), Fabio has collected 100 points out of the 175 put into play. Only Marquez has done better thanks to his almost full card: 170 points !

In this last third of the season in comparison, Andrea "vice-champion" Dovizioso scored 97 points and Maverick "first Yamaha" Vinales 93. As for Alex "two wins" Rins who is ahead of Fabio by 13 points in the final standings, he did not only gleaned 56…

Quartararo’s second place at the Valencia GP – less than two seconds behind Marquez – therefore illustrates the situation wonderfully: the best rookie of 2019 and also the second best current rider in MotoGP. He will therefore embark on his second season with the suit the challenger suit for the 2020 world champion title.

Who would have believed it exactly a year ago, just before Fabio posed his buttocks for the first time in his life on a Grand Prix prototype? Talented and diligent, super fast in qualifying and more and more tenacious in the race, our good "French 20" is still in the maturing phase. The best is yet to come ?

"In 2018, a lot of people told me that I did not deserve a place in MotoGP and that I was not ready for it", recalls the double Moto3 CEV champion (Spanish championship, 2013 and 2014). It was then advertised as the "Marquez à la française" but had failed to confirm in small and medium categories…

Finally, it is in the queen category that the kid of just 20 years old revealed himself. "I think that with seven podiums and six pole positions, I showed them they were wrong! I’m very happy with this season and the whole team can be proud of it." Well done Fabio! And strongly the year 2020, or "double 20" !

Ranking and evolution of the Top 10 MotoGP in 2019

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