Motorsport

20 for #20: Fabio Quartararo rounds up impressive MotoGP stats

Michelle Liew

July 21, 2020

The Frenchman has made a name for himself in just 20 races.

Fabio Quartararo | Photo credits: Yamaha

Fabio Quartararo has long been under the limelight since his move to the MotoGP Championship. The Frenchman has achieved a remarkable list of stats, including Rookie of the Year honours last year. Continuing his impressive streak, Quartararo’s 20th race yesterday added yet another stellar record for the history books.

Quartararo became the first French premier class winner since Regis Laconi at the 1999 Valencia GP. He became the first satellite Yamaha winner in the MotoGP era. He is also the eight youngest riders to win the premier class at 21 years and 90 days.

The young gun’s debut season, which was also the debut season for PETRONAS Yamaha SRT, sparked memorable impressions in the first round itself in Qatar. He set the fastest lap around Losail International Circuit. He also became the youngest ever MotoGP pole sitter in Jerez. It was a historic day for the team as Franco Morbidelli joining him on the front row of the grid after qualifying second.

Johann Zarco, Fabio Quartararo, Carmelo Ezpeleta, Spanish MotoGP, 16 July 2020

To date, Quartararo has bagged six pole positions, seven podium finishes (five of which saw him on the second step) and broke 4 lap records (Jerez, Assen, Buriram and Sepang). He was certainly deserving of 2019 Rookie of the Year in Japan. He helped PETRONAS Yamaha SRT take the Independent Teams Championship in just their first year in the category.

Quartaro took part in his 20th race in Jerez last week after the extensive break. He showed that being away from his Yamaha YZR-M1 for over four months has only sharpened his drive. Over the course of the weekend, Quartararo broke the lap record (which he himself had set the year before) twice on his way to taking his seventh pole position and ultimately his first MotoGP win. It was his eighth podium and boosted his accumulated points total across the 20 races to 217.

Fabio currently sits at the top of the MotoGP World Championship standings after his victory on Sunday.