2021 World Champion · MotoGP

Fabio Quartararo

The first Frenchman to win the premier class, and the rider who took over Valentino Rossi's factory Yamaha seat at 21. The official Quartararo collection: the number 20, the blue M1 and the 2021 title year.

Nationality
French
Born
20 April 1999 · Nice, France
Team
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
Race number
20
Championships
1 (2021)
First
First French premier-class World Champion
Shop the Collection Watch highlights
Graphic illustration of MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo in his Yamaha racing suit holding his helmet.
2021 MotoGP World Champion
2019 — Present
1
World Championship
11
MotoGP Wins
32
Podium Finishes
21
Pole Positions

Who is Fabio Quartararo?

Fabio Quartararo (born 20 April 1999) is a French MotoGP rider for Monster Energy Yamaha and the 2021 World Champion, the first French rider to win the premier class. Nicknamed El Diablo, he replaced Valentino Rossi in the factory Yamaha team in 2021 and has taken 11 wins, 32 podiums and 21 pole positions. He joins Honda from 2027.

Full name
Fabio Alain Quartararo
Nationality
French
MotoGP career
2019–present
Best known for
First French premier-class champion

By Kozmozracing Editorial Published Updated 7 sources

Rider Profile

Fabio Quartararo: Full Biography

Fabio Alain Quartararo is a French Grand Prix motorcycle rider for Monster Energy Yamaha and the 2021 MotoGP World Champion, the first French rider to win the premier class.

The Junior Prodigy Born in Nice, Quartararo won six Spanish junior titles and took back-to-back CEV Moto3 championships in 2013 and 2014, setting a series of age records on the way up. Two seasons in Moto3 and two in Moto2 followed, with one win, in 2018.

Yamaha and the Title He reached MotoGP with the satellite Petronas Yamaha team in 2019, scored seven podiums and was Rookie of the Year, then replaced Valentino Rossi in the factory team for 2021. That season brought five wins, ten podiums and the championship, taken despite surgery for arm pump mid-season.

The Lean Years Runner-up in 2022, he then spent three seasons on a Yamaha that could no longer win, with a best finish of ninth in 2025. He announced his departure from the team in June 2026 after six years, and MotoGP confirmed on 21 July 2026 that he joins Honda HRC Castrol from 2027.

The Career

Three Chapters That Defined Fabio Quartararo

Chapter 01

Too Fast, Too Young

Quartararo won six junior championships in Spain and took the CEV Moto3 title in 2013 and again in 2014, setting a series of age records on the way up. The World Championship years were harder than the hype suggested: two seasons in Moto3 without a win, then two in Moto2 with a single victory, in 2018. He arrived in MotoGP in 2019 with a satellite Yamaha and a reputation he had not yet justified.

Fabio Quartararo at Moto3 Valencia Test in November 2014 CEV · Moto3 · Moto2 Photo: Fabio Quartararo at Moto3 Valencia Test by Box Repsol / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 · licence
Chapter 02

Rossi's Seat

Seven podiums and six poles as a rookie changed the picture, and Yamaha moved him into the factory team for 2021 in place of Valentino Rossi. He won five races that season, stood on the podium ten times, and had surgery for arm pump in the middle of it. The title made him the first French rider to win the premier class in the history of the championship.

Fabio Quartararo, riding his Monster Energy Yamaha, being followed by the Repsol Honda of Marc Márquez at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix. Monster Energy Yamaha · the title year Photo: Fabio Quartararo, riding his Monster Energy Yamaha by Box Repsol / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 · licence
Chapter 03

A Yamaha That Stopped Winning

Runner-up in 2022, Quartararo then spent four seasons extracting more from the M1 than it had to give: tenth in 2023, thirteenth in 2024, and ninth in 2025 with five pole positions but only one podium. The 2026 V4 project has not reversed it — fourteenth on 55 points after eleven rounds. In June 2026 he announced he was leaving after six years, and Honda confirmed him for 2027 and 2028.

Fabio Quartararo racing for Monster Energy Yamaha at the 2024 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix 2023–2026 · five poles, no wins Photo: Fabio Quartararo racing for Monster Energy Yamaha by Liauzh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · licence
Career Timeline

Fabio Quartararo Career Timeline: 1999–Present

Born in Nice

Fabio Alain Quartararo is born on 20 April in Nice, and races his junior career in Spain.

CEV Moto3 champion

Wins the Spanish CEV Moto3 title, and retains it in 2014.

Grand Prix debut

Enters the Moto3 World Championship with Estrella Galicia at 15, taking two podiums and two poles.

Moto2

Steps up to Moto2 with Pons, finishing thirteenth in a difficult first season.

First Grand Prix win

Takes his maiden victory in Moto2 with Speed Up and earns a MotoGP seat.

MotoGP debut

Scores seven podiums and six poles for Petronas Yamaha, finishes fifth and is named Rookie of the Year.

First MotoGP wins

Wins the opening two races at Jerez and finishes the season eighth.

World Champion

Replaces Valentino Rossi in the factory Yamaha team and wins the title with five victories.

Runner-up

Wins three races and finishes second in the championship to Francesco Bagnaia.

The hardest season

Finishes thirteenth without a podium as the Yamaha M1 falls behind the Ducatis.

Five poles

Qualifies on pole five times but converts only one podium, ending the year ninth.

Leaving Yamaha

Announces his departure in June after six seasons; MotoGP confirms his move to Honda HRC on 21 July.

By the Numbers

Fabio Quartararo MotoGP Record, Season by Season

Fabio Quartararo season-by-season record: team, wins, poles, podiums, points and final standing.
SeasonTeam Wins Poles Podiums Points Pos.
2019 Petronas Yamaha 0 6 7 192 5
2020 Petronas Yamaha 3 4 3 127 8
2021 Monster Energy Yamaha 5 5 10 278 1
2022 Monster Energy Yamaha 3 1 8 248 2
2023 Monster Energy Yamaha 0 0 3 172 10
2024 Monster Energy Yamaha 0 0 0 113 13
2025 Monster Energy Yamaha 0 5 1 201 9
2026 Monster Energy Yamaha 0 0 0 55 14

The championship season is highlighted. MotoGP career totals: 11 wins · 21 pole positions · 32 podiums · 1,386 points from 144 starts. In the smaller classes he took one win, in Moto2 in 2018, from 66 further starts. The 2026 season is still in progress after eleven rounds; figures verified 28 July 2026 against the official standings.

Fabio Quartararo in his own words

In His Own Words
I have nothing to prove.
Fabio Quartararo · MotoGP.com interview, May 2026

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Frequently Asked

Fabio Quartararo: Frequently Asked Questions

How many MotoGP races has Fabio Quartararo won?

Eleven, all with Yamaha: three in 2020, five in the 2021 title season and three in 2022. He also has 32 podiums and 21 pole positions from 144 premier-class starts.

When did Fabio Quartararo win the world championship?

In 2021, with the factory Monster Energy Yamaha team, taking five wins and ten podiums. He is the first French rider to win the premier class in the history of the championship.

Why is Fabio Quartararo called El Diablo?

It is the nickname he has carried since his junior racing years in Spain, and it appears on his leathers and helmet alongside his number 20.

Did Fabio Quartararo replace Valentino Rossi?

Yes. Yamaha announced in January 2020 that he would take Rossi's place in the factory team from 2021, after a rookie season with the satellite Petronas Yamaha squad in which he scored seven podiums and six poles.

What happened to Fabio Quartararo after 2022?

The Yamaha M1 lost competitiveness against the Ducatis. He finished tenth in 2023, thirteenth in 2024 and ninth in 2025 — the last of those with five pole positions but only one podium — and is fourteenth after eleven rounds of 2026.

Is Fabio Quartararo leaving Yamaha?

Yes. He announced his departure in June 2026 after six seasons with the factory team, and MotoGP confirmed on 21 July 2026 that he will ride for Honda HRC Castrol in 2027 and 2028.

What did Fabio Quartararo win before MotoGP?

Six Spanish junior championships, including the CEV Moto3 title in 2013 and 2014. His only Grand Prix win outside the premier class came in Moto2 in 2018 with Speed Up.

Shop His Gear

Fabio Quartararo Collection

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References

Sources & Further Reading

Every statistic on this page is drawn from the following records.

  1. Fabio Quartararo — official rider profile · MotoGP.com (official)
  2. CONFIRMED: Quartararo moves to Honda from 2027 · MotoGP.com (official)
  3. Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme · FIM, governing body records
  4. 2026 MotoGP World Championship — riders' standings · Wikipedia
  5. Fabio Quartararo · Wikipedia
  6. Fabio Quartararo (Q16635516) · Wikidata entity record
  7. Quartararo: "I have nothing to prove" · MotoGP.com (official)

How this page is made

Rider profiles are compiled from official series records and cross-checked against independent statistical databases before publication.

Commercial disclosure. This page links to merchandise sold by Kozmozracing. Products are fan-made tributes inspired by motorsport history and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed from the rider, their estate, or any team.

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