Motorcycle: Fabio Quartararo, a French at top of Queen Category of Speed

At the end of the Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna, Sunday, “El Diablo” picks up the most prestigious title in motorcycle speed.

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The case seemed heard. For two decades, the MotoGP category, Queen Discipline of the Speed ​​Bike, had become a kept hunt. Italian, first. Spanish then. But this domination has ended. And it’s a 22-year-old Frenchman who overturned it.

Sunday, October 24, at the Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna in Misano, Italy, Fabio Quartararo has dropped the world crown, two races of the end of the championship. A first history: Never had a Frenchman had imposed in this category of the most powerful motorcycles (1,000 cm 3 ) engaged in competition.

With 68 points ahead of its next to the world ranking, Italian Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo can not be joined. After a first part of the season in fanfare, and five wins in twelve grand prizes, he managed his lead as an old pecker, only driver to finish all the races.

The feat is all the more remarkable as French completes only its third season in MotoGP. “He has been at the top of the championship almost all the season. His domination is bluffing, especially for a pilot as young,” commented Hervé Poncharal, the boss of Tech3 KTM team.

“The boss of the Paddock “

The advent of Fabio Quartararo is not a surprise. If it has never been titrated in the lower categories (motorcycle and motorcycle), he has spied the circuit as soon as it arrives in MotoGP, in 2019: seven podiums and the title of better rookie (“beginner”).

But it was in 2020, in favor of its passage from a Yamaha satellite team, Petronas Yamaha SRT, to the official stable of the Japanese manufacturer, which it changed in size, by winning three victories. And, above all, as a long time in favorite of the sextuple of the Spanish World Champion Marc Marquez (discarded on injury from the first grand prize). Before cracking.

“In previous years, the level was there, but it was coming to commit mistakes, by nervousness. This year, he took the ascendant over everyone. He is the Paddock boss”, Enjoys Hervé Poncharal . The use of a mental preparer at interiorison has undoubtedly helped to help French accelerate its metamorphosis.

The season 2021 was far from serene. The Yamaha have often been dominated by the Ducati (which Francesco Bagnaia pilot), faster in a straight line. “Fabio won the championship without having the most powerful motorcycle. He showed that he knew how to get the most out of his machine, it’s the brand of great”, was Mr. Poncharal.

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/Media reports.