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INTERVIEW I MO T OGP WORLD C HAMPION FABIO QUAR TARARO P130 "It was really difficult," he admitted of that expectation he faced in his grand prix debut in 2015. "It was a great motiva- tion. But with the motivation, the pressure was so high. This is something I had to live with. I had tough years, but I learnt a lot in these tough years." There were a few low points in those years in Moto3 and Moto2. Breaking his ankle midway through 2015 was one. A wretched season riding a KTM the following season was another. But the most jarring came in 2018, his second year in Moto2. "A key point that really woke me up was in Argentina [that year]," he said after his Mi- sano success. "I qualified P28. This moment is the one where I just said, 'Wake up!' I was starting close to the safety car, scared maybe it could overtake me too. But it was a moment where we said my riding style was not working on Moto2, so I will totally change." Speaking to CN, he pointed to the following round at Jerez in '18 as key. "I didn't care if I went one second slower. I just wanted to change totally my way of riding. From there it was working pretty well." Three rac- es later, he picked up the first victory on the world stage—just when Yamaha were searching for a new name for its satellite MotoGP team for the following year. Talk about timing. 2022 And Beyond So, a mix of maturity, social skills and a willingness to work has complimented the talent that was clear for all to see ever since Quartararo swept to his first Spanish Championship title at the age of 13. 2022 is guar- anteed to pose an even greater challenge with Bagnaia now fully believing in his own ability, and Marquez closer to being physi- cally restored. But, at 22, it's fair to say Quartararo still has room to grow. And on this year's evidence, he'll attack his title defense with all he has. "Last year there was incon- sistency, frustration and anger," said Jarvis. "In the winter he and his management analyzed that. He came back at the beginning of this year as 'Fabio MotoGP Version 3.' He's ironed out most of his problems. Fabio this year hasn't had any weaknesses. Even on his worst days he took points. Chapeau! to him for that. I think he can do this again." CN One race after wrapping up the title, it didn't end well for the Frenchman.