Quartararo dismisses possibility of changing to #1 plate next season

Despite winning the 2021 MotoGP World Championship, Fabio Quartararo doesn’t feel like the number one rider and therefore won’t change to the #1 plate in 2022. 

In fact, Quartararo has decided against using the number - last used by Casey Stoner in 2012, at any point in his career.

"We will not see this number because I started with the #20 and I feel like I’m not number one,” said the new world champion," said Quartararo. 

"I will keep going with the #20 until the end of my career because it’s the number that made me really want to start when I was four. It’s a really special number."

With the riders’ title now in the bag for Quartararo, Yamaha could become the first manufacturer to complete a triple crown since Repsol Honda managed the feat in 2019. 

For that to happen, Quartararo claiming a second win of the year at Portimao would go a long way, however, the Frenchman is likely to need help from other Yamaha riders as Ducati lead the manufacturers championship by 12 points - one point less than the advantage Yamaha holds over them in the teams’ title. 

But despite Yamaha relying heavily on Quartararo’s shoulders for this to happen, the 22 year-old feels no pressure after already achieving his personal goal. 

Quartararo added: "Honestly, I won’t say it’s pressure because I already achieved my goal. But I will give my best and of course, I come here to fight for the victory, for the podium, but it’s something I can’t really control. 

"I will give my best but we will see the final result. It would be nice to make that (triple crown) and to see if we can achieve it."