Fabio Quartararo has openly supported Moto2 race victor Tony Arbolino for a potential promotion to MotoGP next year, expressing his belief that Arbolino would fit well within Yamaha’s new satellite team, Pramac.
With Trackhouse rider Miguel Oliveira almost confirmed as the lead for Pramac next year, focus has shifted to who will occupy the second seat at the Italian team—one of the last available spots on the 2025 grid.
Reports indicate that Pramac aims to pair Oliveira with an emerging talent from the lower ranks, with MT Helmets – MSI’s Sergio Garcia being the initial frontrunner for the position.
However, Marc VDS rider Arbolino has also entered the conversation in recent weeks, despite facing challenges in his fourth season in Moto2.
After securing the runner-up position to current Tech3 MotoGP rider Pedro Acosta in the 2023 title chase with three wins, Arbolino has yet to finish higher than sixth this year, finding himself outside the top 10 in the championship standings.
The 23-year-old shares a strong rapport with factory Yamaha rider Quartararo since moving to Andorra, with Quartararo advocating for him to take the second seat at Pramac.
While Quartararo lacks direct influence over the final 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 thoughts on Arbolino, who also secured second place in the Moto3 standings in 2020 before moving up to the intermediate category, Quartararo remarked: “For me, he is ready – I’m not pushing because he is my friend.
“This year hasn’t been easy for him. I’m not sure if it’s the [new Pirelli] tires or how they’re managing him, but he has been one of those riders with more than 10 podiums in a row. For me, he is prepared; he just hasn’t shown the results this year.
“I was in a similar situation. I never won more than two races or had more than three podiums in Moto2, yet I felt ready for MotoGP right away.
“So, in my view, he is ready. He now lives really close to me, and I’ve seen how hard he’s working, so I know he can be ready to move up to MotoGP.”
Quartararo, who was once hailed as a future star, faced challenges during his two seasons in Moto2, achieving just one victory in Barcelona in 2018. However, he went on to finish fifth in his first season in the premier class with Petronas SRT.
Having high-quality riders at Pramac is essential for the 2021 champion, especially as Yamaha integrates Pramac into its program and expands to four equal bikes.
The Japanese manufacturer finalized a deal with Alex Rins right before this weekend’s British Grand Prix, maintaining the same lineup for 2025.
When asked about the significance of consistency as Yamaha seeks to rebuild, the 25-year-old stated: “I think it’s great. Alex has performed well this year.
“The feedback he’s been providing aligns with mine, even though our riding styles differ significantly.
“Additionally, next year with two more bikes and enhanced testing, it’s looking very promising. We are collaborating very effectively.”
