Fabio Quartararo has openly supported Moto2 race victor Tony Arbolino for a potential promotion to MotoGP in the upcoming season, expressing that he would be a perfect match for Yamaha’s new satellite squad, Pramac.
With Miguel Oliveira, a Trackhouse rider, almost confirmed to take the lead at Pramac next year, focus is shifting to the second seat at the Italian team, which is one of the last available spots on the 2025 grid.
Pramac appears keen on pairing Oliveira with a promising talent from the junior categories, and initially, MT Helmets – MSI’s Sergio Garcia was seen as the frontrunner for the position.
Nevertheless, in recent weeks, Marc VDS rider Arbolino has also emerged as a strong candidate, despite a challenging fourth season in Moto2.
Having finished as the runner-up to Pedro Acosta, the current Tech3 MotoGP rider, in the 2023 championship and achieving three wins, Arbolino has struggled to secure any position higher than sixth this year, currently placing him outside the top 10 in the standings.
The 23-year-old has maintained a good rapport with factory Yamaha rider Quartararo since his relocation to Andorra, with the Frenchman supporting him for the second Pramac seat.
Although Quartararo lacks direct influence over the decision, he holds some sway similar to that of Pramac’s title sponsor, Prima.
Tony Arbolino, Marc VDS Racing Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
When asked about his view on Arbolino, who also secured a second-place finish in the Moto3 standings in 2020 before moving up to the intermediate class, Quartararo remarked: “For me, he is ready – I’m not advocating simply because he is my friend.”
“This year has been tough for him. I’m unsure if it’s the [new Pirelli] tyres or how they manage his performance, but he has been one of the riders to achieve over 10 podiums in a row. I believe he’s ready, even if the results haven’t been there this year.”
“In my case, it was quite similar. I never won more than two races or finished with more than three podiums in Moto2, yet I was immediately deemed ready for MotoGP.”
“So in my opinion, he is prepared. Now he lives quite close to me, and I see just how hard he is working; I know he is capable of stepping up to MotoGP.”
Quartararo, who was once heralded as the next big talent early in his career, faced challenges during his two seasons in Moto2, managing just one victory in Barcelona in 2018. However, he made a strong debut in the premier class, finishing fifth with Petronas SRT in his first season.
Having elite riders at Pramac is vital for the 2021 champion, as Yamaha expands its MotoGP program to four equal motorcycles with the addition of Pramac.
The Japanese brand recently secured a deal with Alex Rins just before the British Grand Prix, ensuring the same lineup for 2025.
Regarding the significance of continuity at this juncture when Yamaha is focusing on rebuilding, the 25-year-old stated: “I think it’s excellent. Alex has performed well this year.”
“His feedback has been consistent with mine, even though our riding styles are quite different.”
“Additionally, next year with two more bikes and testing opportunities, it will be beneficial. We are making great progress.”
