How Yamaha's rookie-spec MotoGP star is taking charge
Fabio Quartararo is on a roll in 2021 after storming to victory at a venue five months earlier served up one of his worst races. Contrasting Portuguese GPs for Yamaha's factory duo make it hard to understand just how good its 2021 MotoGP bike is, but the Portimao weekend did at least expose one key improvement compared to 2020
The contrast between last year's Portuguese Grand Prix and the 2021 Algarve MotoGP race couldn't be starker. Five months ago, Fabio Quartararo's crumbling title charge met a meek end when he finished 14th and 24 seconds from runaway winner Miguel Oliveira on the Tech3 KTM.
Fast-forward to April of this year, decked in his new factory Yamaha colours instead of Petronas SRT mint green, Quartararo romped to his second win of the campaign 4.8s clear of the field having gotten to the chequered flag some 26s quicker than he did last November.
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