The end of one era and the beginning of another? July 19, 2020 could perhaps be defined like this, since it was a day that marked the future of MotoGP. Two years ago, Marc Márquez was injured when he was competing in the Spanish Grand Prix race, on a day that is also remembered for witnessing Fabio Quartararo’s first victory.
The weekend had already started in an atypical way, since the first round of the season, which is usually held in March, had been postponed due to the health crisis.
The drivers still remember the oven in which they had to start the 2020 season. “It was a nightmare,” Takaaki Nakagami recalled last month. “I will never go to Jerez in August, never in my life!” Indeed, it was in the south of Andalusia, on the southernmost circuit on the European continent, where the campaign started, four months after the first confinements, and in an unprecedented environment, since the stands remained empty.
Quartararo had already impressed in his debut season the year before, taking pole position for the seventh time in his career, ahead of then factory Yamaha rider Maverick Viñales and Márquez himself. The Frenchman lost position with the two at the start, and then with Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia, but would soon regain fourth place.
Márquez overtook Viñales for the lead and, in his attempt to get away, the eight-time world champion went wide at turn 4. As usual, he miraculously managed to stay on top of the bike despite having to cross the gravel area, and rejoined the track in 18th position.
Quartararo got rid of Miller before taking advantage of a mistake by Viñales, who was having problems with the front soft tyre, to take the lead before the halfway point of the race. The Frenchman soon opened a considerable gap with his rivals, who were unable to hunt him down again.
Meanwhile, Marquez was putting on an overtaking display while pulling off one of his trademark comebacks. The Spaniard got rid of all his rivals with insulting ease and seemed willing to get a good loot of points despite the initial mistake.
However, once he had reached third position, the Honda rider crashed, repeating the incident at turn 4. This time there was no miraculous save, but a strong impact that resulted in his retirement, but on everything, in a fractured humerus.
With Márquez’s ordeal about to begin, Quartararo enjoyed one of the greatest joys of his career, winning the race 4.6 seconds ahead of Viñales, and with Andrea Dovizioso as the third guest on the podium. Not only was the young rider’s locker open, but also his country’s: his triumph was also the first for France in the MotoGP era, and the first in the premier class since Regis Laconi outclassed everyone in Valencia in 1999 .
“Damn! This is the time of my life,” exclaimed Quartararo as he stepped off SRT Yamaha after becoming the first winner with the satellite team in four years. “I still don’t realize it. It’s been a strange race without the fans, and I wish they were there to celebrate with them.”
The transformation of MotoGP after the 2020 Spanish GP
It was a memorable grand prix in more ways than one, and it kicked off a new era in MotoGP. A week later, at the Andalusian GP, Valentino Rossi stood on the podium for the last time, while Quartararo secured the second of his three victories in 2020.
Since he began collecting top podium appearances, a further nine riders have won their first race in the premier class, and the days of Marquez racking up wins appear to be behind him.
Márquez underwent surgery on the Tuesday following the Spanish GP and tried to get back on the bike at the second round in Jerez on Saturday. After a total of 28 laps, completed during FP3 and FP4, the #93 opted to retire.
However, the return had been excessively early and the damage had been done: the plate had weakened and broke a few days later, in a small domestic accident. This required further intervention and ended his season. The humerus of his right arm was very weak and required a bone graft in a third operation at the end of 2020, at the same time a serious infection was detected.
Márquez returned to the circuits in 2021. Physically impaired both by antibiotic treatment to stave off the infection and by his arm, he did not compete for the title but won three races. After having to miss several races last season and the current one, due to new episodes of diplopia (double vision), the Honda rider again noticed the physical limitations.
Together with the medical team, Márquez decided to undergo surgery once again after the Italian GP, to reposition the humerus and put it on the correct axis. This last operation should allow you to recover the lost sensations.
Fabio Quartararo celebrates his 2021 title
During the eighth champion’s absence, Joan Mir won the 2020 title, a season in which Quartararo won three races but was hampered by inconsistent results.
El Diablo , who moved up to the official Yamaha team last year, managed to find the consistency that was missing. He won five races and took the world championship, which was the first for a Frenchman, when there were still two races left to finish the season.
Two years after his victory in Jerez, Fabio Quartararo seems to be the only rider capable of shining on a Yamaha that does not achieve the same top speed as his rivals. He has been the most consistent driver at the helm of the races in the first half of the 2022 season, with three more wins, bringing his total to 11, and first place in the championship. At just 23 years old, Quartararo is emerging as the new strong man of MotoGP. What will happen when Marquez returns? Only time will tell.
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