Yamaha Philippines has confirmed it! 

On March 4, 2023, reigning Moto GP Champion Fabio Quartararo, and teammate Franco Morbidelli will be at the Clark International Speedway for a meet and greet with Filipino MotoGP fans.

Perhaps we will even see them in action on the track as they will be joined by our local heroes Mckinley Kyle Paz, April King Mascardo, and Gian Carlo Mauricio. The action starts at 7 am, and entrance to the track is free!

These two seasoned racers are the new beacons of greatness and inspiration for aspiring Filipino riders. With such talent and skill, their mere presence on our shores will surely ignite the country's racing passion to a feverish pitch. 

Rubbing elbows with legends

The last time a Yamaha MotoGP rider graced Manila was in 2019, when Maverick Viñales was still a part of the team.

Before that, we witnessed his pairing with ‘The Doctor,’ Valentino Rossi, in an epic event that saw them ride in the Yamaha Grand Prix and take the LRT to the Yamaha Monumento Station. A new generation of riders has joined the fold since to carry the Yamaha badge to greater heights on the racetrack.

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo became part of the Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Team, replacing the legendary Rossi in 2021. With all the pressure in the world, ‘El Diablo’ would bring the heat in the racing season.

Despite issues with his arm pump in Jerez and his leathers in Barcelona, the victory at Round 2 in Qatar provided him the lift he needed. Four more wins, ten podium finishes, and five pole positions separated him from the pack, earning him and France a first MotoGP World Championship.

A powerhouse pairing

Franco Morbidelli partnered with Fabio Quartararo after gaining promotion from Petronas Yamaha SRT in the same year. Back in 2019, Morbidelli finished seven races in the top six.

When the Italian won his first MotoGPTM race at Misano, things only got better for him. In the following races in Teruel and Valencia, he earned two more victories for a total of three victories in 2020. Two other podium places also helped him advance to second place in the Championship standings.

Due to his success, Franco was among the front-runners for the crown in 2021, but a knee injury sidelined his campaign.

So, will we see you in Clark on March 4th? I don’t know about you, but I’m getting my helmet signed.