Fabio Quartararo

Fabio Alain Quartararo was born on April 20, 1999, in Nice, France, to a family of Sicilian origin. Racing was in his blood from the start - his father, Étienne, was a motorcycle racer who had won the 1983 French 125cc Championship and competed in the 250cc class of the 1986 French motorcycle Grand Prix, providing the foundation for young Fabio's eventual path into motorcycle racing.

Quartararo's junior career was marked by exceptional success in Spanish championships, where he won six titles that established him as a rising star. His breakthrough came with successive CEV Moto3 titles in 2013 and 2014, achievements that came at such a young age that he began setting various age records during his progression toward World Championship level.

Due to his remarkable successes as a young rider, Quartararo was widely tipped for 'big things' and drew comparisons to multiple-time world champion Marc Márquez. However, his transition to the Moto3 and Moto2 World Championships proved challenging, as he failed to meet the high expectations that had been placed upon him based on his junior career dominance.

Quartararo made his MotoGP debut with Petronas Yamaha SRT, where he quickly found his footing in the premier class. His rookie season in 2019 was outstanding, earning him rookie of the year honors with seven podiums and a fifth-place finish in the overall standings - a remarkable achievement that signaled his potential at the highest level.

The 2020 season saw further progress as Quartararo collected three victories in what was a compressed season due to global circumstances. His performances earned him a promotion to the Yamaha Factory Racing Team for 2021, replacing legendary rider Valentino Rossi.

The 2021 season proved to be Quartararo's defining moment. In his first season with the factory Yamaha team, he captured five victories and ten podiums, clinching the MotoGP World Championship and making history as the first French World Champion in the premier class. This achievement represented the culmination of his journey from promising junior to world champion.

In recognition of his historic championship achievement, Quartararo was awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honour on July 14, 2022, one of France's highest civilian honors, cementing his status as a national sporting hero.