MotoGP News: Fabio Quartararo Rates Marc Marquez Over Valentino Rossi In GOAT Debate

Saajan Jogia | Jul 24, 2024

Apr 14, 2024; Austin, TX, USA; Marc Marquez (93) of Spain and Gresini Racing MotoGP rides in warmups before the start of the MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

In the debate of MotoGP's all-time great riders, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team rider Fabio Quartararo has ranked Marc Marquez over his childhood hero, the Doctor - Valentino Rossi.

While Marquez secured a contract to race for Ducati's official team in 2025, Rossi, who retired from racing in 2021, remains deeply involved in MotoGP through his VR46 team, which operates Ducati bikes on a satellite basis. However, the debate over the greatest of all time in MotoGP continues to brew among fans, with Marquez and Rossi often being compared as the sport's top legends.

Fabio Quartararo made his MotoGP debut in 2019, gaining the unique experience of racing alongside both Rossi and Marquez. After being promoted to the factory Yamaha team in 2021, he replaced Rossi and clinched his first world title that same year.

Quartararo, who openly admires Rossi and looked up to him since he was five years old, describes the journey of replacing him in the premier class of racing. In an interview with jewelry brand TwoJeys, here's what the French rider had to say:

“My idol was always Valentino.

“My relationship with him was in stages. When I was seven years old, I had my photo taken. Later, when I was 15, he invited me to his ranch. And in 2021 we swapped places [in MotoGP].

“At that time the pressure was enormous because I had to take the place of the king. In my case, I have more people who inspire me, but since I was five years old, my idol has been him.”

However, Quartararo offered his verdict on Marquez being the 'best ever' in MotoGP. He added:

“I always liked Valentino, but Marc is the best ever, even if he has won fewer titles.

“In 2014 [when Marquez made his debut] he won the first ten races of the year and I thought, ‘who is this guy?’

“And on top of it all is that you put him in wet races, dry races, windy races, in good conditions or the worst, and he is always very fast.

“For me, he is the example that best describes what he is like as a rider. He is very aggressive, and when you see him riding it looks like he is a second and a half faster than you."