Quartararo Eyes Pramac Yamaha Future with Di Giannantonio and Moto2 Talents: A New Era for Yamaha in MotoGP?

Fabio Quartararo selects his ideal teammates for Yamaha’s upcoming satellite MotoGP initiative with Pramac: "The person to my right and a newcomer."

If Fabio Quartararo has his way, we might see two riders named Fabio on Yamahas in next season's MotoGP.

When requested to select his ideal team composition for the upcoming Pramac Yamaha initiative, the champion of the world in 2021 shared:

"The person to my right," he indicated towards Fabio di Giannantonio, who is currently with VR46, as they sat together on Thursday at the Sachsenring.

"I believe Fabio has the potential to do an excellent job for Yamaha."

"I'm making my way to Yamaha because I believe he has been performing exceptionally well over the past 10 months."

"I believe having a cyclist of his caliber could significantly enhance our project, and I also see the potential benefits in bringing on a newcomer."

When asked about the potential new entrants, Quartararo responded:

"I believe that racers such as Sergio Garcia and Alonso Lopez are showing great speed in the Moto2 category. It's my opinion that they have what it takes to secure positions within a team such as Pramac, which ultimately functions more as an extension of a factory team rather than a mere satellite team."

In response to Quartararo's comments, di Giannantonio, who previously mentioned having three strategies for the upcoming season labeled as Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C without specifying what they entailed, stated:

"I truly appreciate this circumstance and my thanks also extend to Fabio. It's genuinely heartwarming to receive such kind remarks from a peer – someone I compete against but also consider a friend."

"It's well-known that discussions are ongoing with Yamaha, alongside conversations with my team [VR46] and another option, Plan C, which I'm not at liberty to disclose.

"Additionally, last week, I had a conversation with Fabio [Quartararo] where we openly discussed the current state of the [Yamaha] project."

"I find myself in a very favorable position. It brings me great joy to have the autonomy to shape my future. This weekend, I plan to outline, more or less, the direction for my absolute Plan A."

Securing a deal with Pramac comes with the advantage of a factory contract.

"Absolutely. In my experience, securing a deal with a factory manufacturer differs significantly from engaging with a team, and that's not to discredit the teams in any way," stated di Giannantonio, who has raced with previous season's Ducati bikes at Gresini and currently with VR46 during his MotoGP tenure.

"For a racer, securing a deal with a manufacturing company stands apart. It's an ambition we all share and it's on my list of objectives for the coming season: To obtain a factory bike, be under a factory contract, and receive the special attention that comes from being associated with a manufacturer."

In a remarkable reversal of fortunes during the 2023 season, di Giannantonio dramatically shifted gears. Having seldom breached the top ten in the season's early stages, he surged to claim his first podium and subsequently a race win in the final rounds.

Knowing that Marc Marquez would be taking over his position at Gresini, di Giannantonio's performance led to a change of heart at VR46. Despite initially dismissing the idea of bringing on a rider not from their own academy, his results made them reconsider.

In pursuit of his season's first top-three finish, Diggia has managed to accumulate twice as many points as his VR46 teammate, Marco Bezzecchi, a thrice victor in the 2023 races, who has recently inked a deal with the Aprilia works team.

"Indeed, my circumstances have changed significantly from what they were last year, and I'm extremely thankful for that," di Giannantonio remarked, reflecting on the attention his endorsement has garnered, especially since he only secured his spot on this year's lineup after the 2023 season concluded.

"This signifies that we're performing exceptionally well this winter and throughout this season."

"Definitely, we'll catch up this weekend and on several days next week to finalize my decision. It's always a challenge to make future commitments during a race weekend. However, we're on the verge of sealing the deal for my future."

This upcoming weekend's German Grand Prix signifies the two-year milestone since Quartararo and Yamaha last celebrated a victory in MotoGP.

Quartararo delivered a last persuasive argument to di Giannantonio, discussing the potential differences he may experience transitioning to the Yamaha team after riding with the top-performing Ducati.

"Quartararo explained that there are two distinct initiatives underway. He acknowledged that currently, the Ducati motorcycle holds the lead in competitions. He noted that while currently there are eight riders for Ducati, next year the number will decrease by two, and conversely, their team will gain an additional two riders."

"Yamaha is welcoming numerous newcomers. The initiation of the [Yamaha] initiative is scheduled for around January to February. Naturally, embarking on a fresh endeavor and expecting to compete at the highest level within just four to five months is unrealistic."

"Last year, we found ourselves in a tough spot. Currently, we're undergoing significant changes, and I understand that this process is time-consuming."

"In my opinion, having two alternatives is vastly preferable to none at all in his situation. Undoubtedly, making a decision is challenging… However, I believe it's intriguing to be presented with two possibilities."

Alex Rins, who is sidelined for this weekend's German MotoGP because of an injury, is anticipated to retain his position at Monster Yamaha next to Quartararo through 2025.

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