France’s first ever MotoGP World Champion oozes style: whether it’s his gorgeous and seemingly effortless manner on the bike or through his celebrity friends or taste for fun and fashion, Fabio is one of the most eye-catching athletes in the series. He moved from his native Nice to Spain to jump firmly on the motorcycle racing ‘fasttrack’ in his teens and his abundant natural technique led to unrivalled hype as he dominated feeder series to make his way into Moto3 at the age of sixteen. A first GP podium came in only his second appearance but a win proved elusive as Fabio bumped into future MotoGP peers in the Moto3 and Moto2 classes and had to begin his apprenticeship learning the politics and career choices in Grand Prix. The overdue first victory came in 2018 while in his second term in Moto2. His ability and determination while still only 19 was enough for the Petronas Yamaha satellite team to take a punt on him as a MotoGP rookie in 2019 and the buzzing synergy with the M1 was instantaneous. Quartararo was too young and too green to deal with the Marc Marquez juggernaut that season but he was one of the very few who could get close to the eventual champion. He was on the box seven times. The Monster Energy Yamaha factory unit quickly beckoned and Fabio’s ruthlessly fierce pace through iron-like confidence in the front end of the Yamaha M1 drove rider, bike and team towards the 2021 title. The Yamaha turned beautifully for the Frenchman but the machine was down on horsepower compared to the red sea of Ducatis that were regularly hounding the black-and-blue bike, so the Japanese went into development and Quartararo has been marshalling the charge for the last three years. Further wins were light in the results column during this phase but Fabio has somehow still managed to be competitive against the odds and is always unmissable in full flow.