Quartararo hopes Italians don't "hate" him for replacing Rossi
Fabio Quartararo says he hopes that Italian MotoGP fans don't "hate" him because he is replacing their idol Valentino Rossi at the factory Yamaha squad next season.
Petronas SRT Yamaha rider Quartararo has secured a promotion to the Iwata marque's works operation for 2021 after a stunning rookie campaign last year that featured six pole positions and seven podiums aboard a satellite M1.
The move comes at Rossi's expense, although the 41-year-old has been guaranteed factory support by Yamaha should he choose to stay in MotoGP next year, as seems likely.
Motorsport.com revealed earlier this week that negotiations between Yamaha and the Petronas squad about placing Rossi in the team have already kicked off.
"As a child, [Rossi] gave me the motivation to become a rider," said Quartararo in a fan interview organised by sponsor WithU. "Seeing him win in MotoGP made me happy, when he won it was as if I won.
"Honestly, I don't realise that I am racing with him and that next year, in inverted commas, I will take his place, and his bike!
"I hope to receive more love than hate from the Italian fans and that he will be in the Petronas team. Because if Valentino could keep racing until he's 65, I'll be happy!"
Should a deal be done between Rossi and Petronas, it appears likely the Italian legend will be paired with his protege Franco Morbidelli, who partners Quartararo currently.
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing, Franco Morbidelli, Petronas Yamaha SRT
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Team boss Razlan Razali revealed that it's possible the team could extend 2017 Moto2 champion Morbidelli's contract before the coronavirus-delayed 2020 season starts.
Speaking to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Morbidelli expressed enthusiasm about potentially becoming Rossi's teammate.
"I hope to have a good future, and if that's alongside Vale, it will be even cooler," he said. "If he does [join Petronas], it would be exciting.
"We already share a lot, but having him in the box would be different. The strong friendship drives us to a great rivalry on the track. When I have Vale in front of me, I always try to give something more to beat him. With him the challenge has a different flavour."
Previous article
Mir no longer sees himself as Suzuki number two
Next article
What's behind rumours Dovizioso could leave Ducati?
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Drivers | Fabio Quartararo |
| Teams | SIC Racing Team |
| Author | Jamie Klein |
How Jerez underlined MotoGP's speed problem
The brutal nature of a series of crashes at Jerez has reopened the debate about whether current MotoGP speeds are beyond the safety limits of the tracks. But even if riders are supportive of the move, getting the manufacturers to find a consensus on how speed reductions should be achieved may be altogether harder
How a Crutchlow helped Miller to Jerez MotoGP redemption
Jack Miller’s tough start to life as a factory Ducati MotoGP rider left him mentally battered and bruised, but a pep talk and positive reinforcement from a surprising source aided the Australian to show his full potential with victory at the Spanish Grand Prix
What does Marc Marquez have to do to get back to his best?
Following his resounding MotoGP return with a seventh place finish in Portugal, Marc Marquez now must work to rediscover his best form before turning his attention towards results-based targets
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 hurdles Marquez faces next in his Portugal MotoGP return
Even by Marc Marquez’s own high standards, his MotoGP comeback on Friday at the Portuguese Grand Prix will be considered a success even if he didn’t top the times. But having shown competitive pace on his first day back, both Marquez and his rivals know plenty more challenges are to come...
Where does Espargaro sit ahead of Marquez's return?
Pol Espargaro’s first results as a Honda MotoGP rider may not appear special. But dig a little deeper and a clearer picture of his performance emerges. And, as Lewis Duncan writes, it’s cause for celebration at Honda with the return of Marc Marquez set to provide Espargaro with the reference he has been missing so far this year
The "pit bull" MotoGP rookie already drawing legendary comparisons
MotoGP’s 2021 rookie crop is one of the strongest in recent years, but one is already standing out. Jorge Martin’s Doha GP heroics have courted many to compare him to numerous MotoGP legends. Autosport spoke to Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti to find out why MotoGP’s latest Spanish star is already making such an impact
Why MotoGP's stewards must revisit Miller and Mir's Losail clash
Despite Suzuki’s decision not to appeal against Race Direction’s refusal to penalise Jack Miller following the incident with Joan Mir in Losail, something must be done to avoid a repeat of such an incident, which could have easily ended in tragedy
