As was the case for Valentino in his early years with the Iwata manufacturer, Fabio is the only rider able to fully exploit the M1. The Italian’s colleagues performed on a par with those of El Diablo
26.08.2022 ( Aggiornata il 26.08.2022 12:05 )
It’s Friday 26 August, and time for a morning comparison! Today we’re looking at the MotoGP class, the most followed and hotly debated. And we select two well-known faces, the first of which still races, the other with four-wheelers. Their names are Fabio Quartararo and Valentino Rossi, apparently dissimilar, and yet they have at least one thing in common - Yamaha.
Vale and El Diablo, different arrivals at Yamaha
In 2003 Vale was successfully riding for Honda and, while putting together his fifth world title, was ‘called’ up to the Iwata court. Or rather, the parties would hold secret meetings in the paddock, before Davide Brivio ultimately travelled to Ibiza to convince the Italian ace. Lengthy talks and initial contact between Rossi and the M1 finally led to a decision – we Japanese choose you, do you, man in yellow, choose us? And we know exactly how it went. Number 46 left Repsol HRC at the end of the season, to wear blue the following year. And it was an immediate success.
There were less secrets, tensions and ‘distractions’ when the Frenchman landed in Yamaha’s orbit. Firstly, El Diablo was still racing in Moto2 when he was offered the M1. It was 2018 and the Frenchman was with the Speed Up team. His move to the reigning class came about thanks to team Petronas, a non-factory team with which Quarta would complete three seasons, coming close to the title win in 2020.
A record Rossi, a progressive Fabio
As we’ve said, Valentino won right away. Remember Welkom 2004? At the inaugural round, Rossi showed everyone how it was done, powering the much criticised M1 to victory. But the M1 had changed in the meantime as Brivio, as well as offering vast sums of money, promised a shakeup of the racing department, a totally revised engine, constant updates, Jeremy Burgess’ team (already with the rider at Honda) and Michelin tyres. In accepting, all the Italian had to do was ‘twist the throttle’, and that is just what he did. He secured the title that season, and again in 2005, setting records left, right and centre, for both Yamaha and himself.
Fabio was young when he arrived at Petronas SRT, with everything to learn, about the category, yes, and the bike, sure, but also about his rivals and the tracks… Among the highs and lows of 2019 came podiums, specifically third and second place finishes. The rider who had come to Moto3 by way of a special agreement, despite the age limits not permitting it, soon showed that he was deserving of the Iwata bike. And the highest step of the rostrum? That came in 2020, on three occasions, when he looked to be on his way to the crown. But then came mistake after mistake, and his mission failed. It took the 2021 season to cancel out that disappointment and confirm his talent. Quartararo brought the Japanese manufacturer the desired result, a first for the French nation in the reigning class. And comparisons with Rossi began to be drawn.
Rossi, Quarta and their team-mates
Almost all have been humiliated by both, but a little history is needed here. In 2004 and 2005 this was the case for Carlos Checa, Norifumi Abe, Marco Melandri, Colin Edwards, Toni Elias and Ruben Xaus. While they failed to score even one race win, Vale amassed twenty. An open and shut case. But then things began to change. Rossi secured the title again in 2008 and 2009 but the numbers looked different, as Jorge Lorenzo had arrived, loudly proclaiming his ambitions, despite a wall separating the riders in the factory garage. The Majorcan triumphed in 2010, assisted also by an injury for the Italian at Mugello. For the first time, this passing of the baton highlighted Jorge’s hunger, with the rider doing it again in 2012 and 2015. Vale moved to Ducati, then returned to the M1. There were a few more race wins, but no more titles.
When Quarta came to Yamaha SRT, Maverick Vinales was still performing at a high level. During the 2019 season, the Catalan rider scored two wins with the M1, Fabio zero. In 2020, the brand’s standout rider proved to be Franco Morbidelli, who won three races and came very close to the ultimate prize. Fabio started strong, reaching the front only to plummet to eighth place. But then in 2021, he was able to maintain peak performance, while Maverick scored one win and Rossi and Dovizioso not even that. Yamaha can smile, but only thanks to the Frenchman.
Fabio and Vale today
Quartararo is the reference point for the Japanese brand today. There’s no room for anyone else. Only Fabio knows how to ride the M1 to the limit and only he can power it to victory. Franco Morbidelli is a shadow of his former self, Andrea Dovizioso is about to retire, Darryn Binder is experiencing MotoGP like something of a ‘hit and run’. Essentially the Frenchman is in the same situation as Rossi in 2004-5, when no one except Valentino was strong aboard the M1.
The Italian is now a dad, he races cars and has fun training with the VR46 Academy. When he can, he visits the world championship paddock. At 43, the most successful rider of the modern age takes it all in, the numbers, the riders’ performance, the championship situation. Who knows if Vale would be pleased to be compared to Quarta. We’ll ask him ourselves next time we see him.
Traslated by Heather Watson
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