Quartararo form acting as "stimulation" for Rossi, Vinales
The surprising form of MotoGP rookie Fabio Quartararo has acted as a "stimulation" for works Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales, believes Lin Jarvis.
Quartararo, 20, has stunned the grand prix racing paddock in his first nine races at the highest level, having scored three pole positions and two podium finishes at Barcelona and Assen.
The Frenchman's form on the satellite Petronas Yamaha has prompted runaway points leader Marc Marquez to pinpoint him as his biggest threat for the remainder of the season, along with works Yamaha man Vinales, who won at Assen.
In an exclusive Motorsport.com interview, Yamaha team boss Jarvis said Quartararo, who rides a 2019-spec bike similar to Rossi and Vinales, has also given the factory riders a reference to aim for, despite his inexperience.
"He is able to ride the bike without fear, and it looks like without risk because he has only crashed twice in MotoGP, which is truly amazing when you think about it," Jarvis said of Quartararo.
"Marquez is somebody else who shows these characteristics but he has crashed or almost crashed many times. It is amazing that Fabio has this speed without making too many mistakes.
"So, I think he has a very good, exciting future - hopefully with Yamaha, and we will do our best to keep him - but also for our existing riders it is good to have a benchmark. It is stimulating.
"Normally it is the other way around with rookies but when Valentino and Maverick are having difficulties, we can look at what Fabio is doing - on a bike that is basically the same, or one step lower - and if he can do something then it means we can too."
Jarvis however insisted that Yamaha isn't getting carried away by Quartararo's potential.
He said: "So far, I think he is very exciting, a young rider with high potential that can do great things, but we have to keep our feet on the ground and so does he, because he hasn't won a race so far.
"So, let's keep it in perspective. But I think sometimes an exceptional talent comes along.
"Sometimes there's an exceptional combination of factors where you have the right guy feeling good on the right bike without pressure and it all just works. I see Fabio a little bit like that at the moment."
Fabio Quartararo, Petronas Yamaha SRT
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images
Share Or Save This Story
Toyota-backed Sho Tsuboi to make switch from Super Formula to F2
Sho Tsuboi calls for Super Formula engine overhaul as Toyota “can’t properly compete with Honda”
How a Le Mans winner is changing the game for female racing in Japan
Fabio Quartararo forced to leave Monster as Red Bull returns to Honda
Fabio Quartararo: MotoGP should have the same number of sprints as F1
Fabio Quartararo wades into Francesco Bagnaia's struggles: ‘I’d be furious'
Vierge rejects SRT offer to make MotoGP debut at Aragon
How SRT can convince Dovizioso to join its MotoGP team
The Moto3 rider set for the great leap to MotoGP in 2022
Marco Bezzecchi retreated to pits after Motegi scare: “I’d already had enough” crashes
Marc Marquez vows to go on "attack" after declaring Pedro Acosta fastest at Japanese GP
"Make all mistakes now" – Why Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar want Red Bull to experiment for 2027
Flavio Briatore moves on from Franco Colapinto crash: 'I was upset but the past is the past'
How to make two MotoGP grids with a single qualifying session
What we learned from an emotional MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix
Are Aprilia riders making it too easy for Marc Marquez to win the 2026 MotoGP title?
What we learned from MotoGP’s decisive San Marino Grand Prix
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments