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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1518695
Quartararo Signs Contract Extension Y amaha Motor Co., Ltd. an- nounced that Fabio Quar- tararo will be a Factory Yamaha rider through the 2025 and 2026 MotoGP seasons. Keeping the Frenchman in the Monster Energy Yamaha Mo - toGP Team was a top priority for the Iwata factory and said they are putting their full effort into supporting Quartararo. Yamaha says his decision to "stay with the blue team" was positively influenced by the strong com - mitment it has made to return to winning ways with the ongoing development of the YZR-M1. "Keeping Fabio as a part of the Factory Team is integral to Yamaha's MotoGP project," said managing director of Yamaha Moto Racing's Lin Jarvis. "Fabio is an exceptional talent, a hard worker, a great team player, and he has many competitive years ahead of him. "Yamaha Motor Company, Yamaha Motor Racing and the Monster Energy Yamaha Mo - toGP Team are sparing no effort to ensure a bright future with Fa- bio by taking a more 'aggressive approach' to bike development. "We have already made sig- nificant changes to our organi- zation, including a new internal management system, recruit- ment of top expertise within the industry, new external technical partnerships, increased devel- opment budget, and an intensi- fied testing program. All these changes are designed to speed up the process for us to return to winning ways. "Fabio has understood this commitment, and this has given him the confidence to make his decision to stay with us for the coming years. "Fabio has been with Yamaha since 2019 and with us, the Factory Team, since 2021. In a relatively short time span of just four years, we achieved many successes: eight wins, 21 podi - ums, a MotoGP World title, and a Vice-Champion title. "We are the first to admit that there is much work to do to get back to the competitive level we were at in 2021 and the first half of 2022. But with Fabio, you know he will always put in 100 percent of his best effort. It also comes natural to him to create harmony and a good atmosphere with all staff mem - bers. He can count on the team's and Yamaha's full support every step of the way as we challenge to win more championships together." "I am super happy to an - nounce that I am going to continue my adventure in blue," Quartararo said. "Last winter, Yamaha proved to me that they have a new approach and an ag- gressive mindset. My confidence is high: we will be back at the front together! "Six years ago, they gave me the chance to step up to MotoGP, and since then we have achieved great things together. We still have a long way ahead of us to start fighting for victory again. I will work hard, and I am sure that, together, we will achieve our dream once more!" CN WIND IN THE P32 Fabio Quartararo, pictured here with Lin Jarvis, signed a contract extension with Yamaha through the 2026 MotoGP season.