Quartararo made history in 2021 by becoming the first MotoGP world champion in French history, also ending a drought of Yamaha titles dating back to 2015, when they were crowned with Jorge Lorenzo.
The Nice rider, who joined the Iwata -based factory team this year replacing Valentino Rossi, won five races and scored a further five podium finishes on his way to the title, which he closed with two Grands Prix to go at Misano. El Diablo ultimately finished the season with 26 points over Pecco Bagnaia.
The 2021 M1 was a vast improvement over its predecessor, and Quartararo was able to be much more consistent than throughout the 2020 campaign. However, the bike continued to suffer from a lack of power, as Yamaha was unable to develop its engine in winter due to the development freeze forced by the COVID-19 pandemic for all manufacturers except Aprilia and KTM – which were able to release a new engine as they still enjoyed concessions.
After being crowned in October, Quartararo was asked if he thought he had the best bike on the grid, to which he replied that, based on what he had seen of his rivals, he did not know.
“I don’t know. I haven’t tried the Honda yet, the Ducati ,” Quartararo replied. “What we can say is that looking at the other drivers and their comments, it seems not.”
“For me it’s working quite well, we’re world champions. So I think we can be very happy. We have to work, to be honest I feel very good with the bike, but suffering in many, many areas to overtake.”
“It depends on the track, this [Misano] was very difficult. But we know, everyone knows where we have to improve: the power. With [more] power I think we can have the best bike in the paddock, but I think Yamaha knows where She has to work and right now I can’t say if she’s the best or not, but we’re world champions.”
(Before reading on, click on this link or on the photo to see what’s new from Yamaha at the Jerez test)
Quartararo was unhappy after November’s post-season test at Jerez at Yamaha’s lack of progress on its 2022 bike, and said he would not sign anything for 2023 until he had seen what the team brings to the pre-season test at Sepang in February.
The #20 contract ends at the end of next season and sent a notice to Yamaha to renew: “I am asking for very important things. Later, if they do not show what I ask, at least they try and there is a small improvement, that would be good. But if I see them going in a totally different direction, it could affect my future with Yamaha.”
