Image: Supplied.

Reigning MotoGP World champion Fabio Quartararo has signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team through 2023 and 2024.

The 23-year-old graduated to the factory Yamaha squad in the MotoGP World Championship last year after two seasons with the satellite Petronas SRT outfit and delivered as he claimed the premier class world title.

In 2022 Quartararo has been by far the standout rider from the Iwata factory and leads the championship after the first eight rounds. The renewal shows the Frenchman’s faith in the manufacturer, despite vocalising concerns about a lack of top speed improvements earlier in the year.

“I am really happy to announce to all of you that I will stay with Yamaha for two more years,” stated Quartararo. “In the past, moving up to MotoGP with Yamaha and later to the Factory team were no-brainers.

“Yamaha believed in me from the very beginning, and that is something I do not take lightly. But that being said, this new agreement was a big decision. I’m at a great point in my career, so I took a bit more time taking this decision to be sure.

“I believe in the Yamaha MotoGP project, and I feel Yamaha are truly motivated. And now that we have officially confirmed our decision to continue on this path together, we can fully focus on the current season.”

Managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing Lin Jarvis added: “We are very happy to have reached an agreement with Fabio to continue with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team for 2023 and beyond.

“We brought Fabio into the Factory team last year knowing he is a special talent, but he even exceeded our expectations. One doesn‘t often come across a rider of his calibre.

“He was already showing his talent and speed in his two years with the SRT satellite team in 2019 and 2020, but when he made the step up to the Factory team, we could really see him growing stronger and maturing as a rider.

“In Fabio‘s first season and a half we‘ve booked many successes: 6 race wins, 14 podiums, 6 pole positions, and the 2021 MotoGP World Title. These results have come from a strong team effort from the rider, his crew, our engineers, and all team staff working together with a positive ‘can-do’ spirit.

“With Fabio we know he will always put in 100% of his best effort, and we have assured him that Yamaha will do the same and we will invest in future developments so that together we can challenge for the MotoGP World Championship Titles for years to come.”