The 2021 MotoGP Champion Fabio Quartararo‘s journey has encountered hurdles in recent times. Despite his past successes, the Frenchman’s hunger for victory remains unquenched due to the limitations of his current Yamaha bike. Aleix Espargaro, Quartararo’s friend and fellow rider driving for Aprilia, firmly believes that with the right tools, Quartararo can rise again as a champion.
At 24 years old, Quartararo still possesses the youthful vigor and unwavering determination Aleix Espargaro admires. As Espargaro explains, “For me, he is still young, he is still eager. You can see that in the first laps of every GP, he has even more aggressiveness than in the past.” The Yamaha rider has been winless for close to a year now.
However, the Spaniard acknowledges that Quartararo’s heightened aggression stems from realizing he lacks the same level of control and speed as before. In an effort to compensate, Quartararo strives to make up ground from the start. “This means he still has the hunger to win, but obviously he doesn’t have the best bike at all at the moment,” he said.
Espargaro recognizes the challenge of competing in MotoGP without a highly competitive bike, where numerous exceptional riders populate the grid. “Right now, he is a very good rider, but there are many good riders, so it’s not easy if you don’t have a very competitive bike,” the #41 rider believes. Despite the formidable competition, Espargaro staunchly believes that Quartararo is among the best, if not the best, riders in the championship. “Fabio is still if not the best, one of the best riders in the grid,” the Aprilia man concluded.
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Aleix Espargaro edges closer towards retirement while Fabio Quartararo looks for alternatives outside Yamaha
Meanwhile, Espargaro finds himself contemplating retirement. As the oldest active driver on the grid, his contract with Aprilia extends through the end of 2023. While he initially expressed interest in continuing if he could fight for the title in 2024, his performances this season have not met Aprilia’s expectations. As a result, it appears increasingly likely that Espargaro’s final year in the sport is unfolding before us.
For Quartararo, the path forward may involve considering alternative options within the MotoGP landscape. While his connection with Yamaha has been strong since his arrival, the team’s struggles to consistently deliver a competitive package have raised doubts about their ability to support Quartararo’s aspirations. Brands such as Ducati and Aprilia emerge as potential destinations, offering the opportunity for Quartararo to reignite his championship ambitions with a fresh start.
As Quartararo seeks to reclaim his position at the forefront of MotoGP, the belief and support of Espargaro, a respected fellow rider, carry significant weight. Quartararo’s hunger to win, combined with his exceptional talent, make him a force to be reckoned with on the grid. With the right tools, it is plausible to envision Quartararo ascending once again to the pinnacle of the sport, capturing the championship that eludes him.
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