Quartararo set on MotoGP title, “I won’t settle for less”

Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo is heading stateside this month in a bid to rebuild his fitness ahead of an intense MotoGP title bid.

With 21 rounds and 42 races scheduled for the coming year, Quartararo’s preparation was made all the more challenging after fracturing his hand in December. But with the Frenchman now given the all clear to resume training it’s all systems go for the 2021 Champion as he aims for title number two.

“The winter break was, I would say, intense, because when I was training quite hard doing motocross, I got a hand injury,” Quartararo confirmed from the Monster Energy Yamaha team launch in Jakarta on Tuesday. “I then switched to doing a lot of cardio. My plan is to go to the US after the team presentation. Hopefully I can ride a lot there.

“I’ve recently had my hand scanned to see if everything is fixed, and it’s all good now. I have made a full recovery.

“Of course, 2022 was a not an easy season,” he continued. “Especially the performance of the bike was something we struggled with from the beginning but I was actually quite happy about the experience I gained.

While Quartararo couldn’t fully defend his position as reigning champion in 2022, handing the title over to Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia after a late season battle, the 23-year-old is determined to get his hands on the trophy again this time around.

“Finishing Vice Champion last year is definitely something I want to improve on,” Quartararo acknowledged. “I want to win the title again in 2023, and I won’t settle for less. Hopefully we worked well on the bike over the winter so we can fight for the title again.

2023, however, brings new challenges with the introduction of Saturday sprint races to an ever-extending 21-round calendar.

“Honestly, I’m not