The pre-MotoGP record of current series champion Fabio Quartararo offers a counterpoint to calls for a Formula 1-like superlicence to be introduced in the series, according to Quartararo’s Yamaha team-mate Franco Morbidelli.
The topic of a superlicence has come up recently following the news that Darryn Binder would jump directly from Moto3 to MotoGP next year, and Binder wiping out title contender Dennis Foggia in the Portimao race has only served to reignite it.
MotoGP frontrunner Francesco Bagnaia was among those expressing a desire for a superlicence to at least be considered, and several fellow riders agreed it was a topic worth exploring.
The topic was previously in the headlines three years ago when current World Superbike backmarker Christophe Ponsson made a sudden appearance as a MotoGP injury stand-in for Avintia Ducati, lapping well off the pace but avoiding any major incidents.
Ponsson was ultimately replaced for the following race, in what he alleged was a decision brought on by pressure from MotoGP regulars – in particular, “Cal Crutchlow and Jack Miller”.
Binder’s credentials in the grand prix paddock are far stronger than Ponsson’s, but he does have just one win to show for seven seasons of Moto3 competition so far.
His Moto3 longevity is not unusual, with Binder only the seventh-most experienced rider in the class’s relatively short history, and he does have five extra podiums in addition to his win, as well as three poles.
When asked about Binder’s impending MotoGP move being potential grounds to consider a MotoGP superlicence, Morbidelli said: “Ah, well, this is something I don’t want to… pffff… think about it too much because I have other things on my mind right now.
“Might be a good thing, for sure. To step up to MotoGP, you should have at least some results or some kind of pedigree.
“That’s a good thought and a good point of view, that I agree with. Why not?
“But also sometimes, some riders that, number-wise don’t have good pedigree or number-wise they’re not on top, can reach MotoGP and can do well.
“We have to look at Fabio for example. He wasn’t doing mint when he was in Moto3 and Moto2, but then he stepped up in MotoGP and did very well.
“So, I wouldn’t certainly say that Darryn would be the same rider that he is now in Moto3, also in MotoGP. I wouldn’t be certain.”
The idea that larger bikes should suit Binder better is a popular one – but his situation is still different to that of Quartararo, even though the Frenchman was likewise a long-shot, surprise signing for the Yamaha satellite team in 2019.
Quartararo had arrived to the grand prix paddock as the next big thing following two consecutive CEV Moto3 titles, and made a strong early impression in Moto3, before getting injured and never coming close to replicating that form.
He cut his losses by moving straight to Moto2 after a disappointing second season in the lightweight class, and though the timing of his sole intermediate-class win in his sophomore season was fortuitous – coming right as Petronas Yamaha was searching for a MotoGP rider after being turned down by Dani Pedrosa – it did represent a clear upwards trend.
He was also just one of two riders on SpeedUp bikes in the Kalex-dominated Moto2 field, and comfortably outperformed his team-mate, 2015 Moto3 champion Danny Kent.
And while he goes down in the record books as only a one-time Moto2 winner, Quartararo did win again on the road by outduelling his current main MotoGP rival Bagnaia at Motegi, only to be disqualified for low tyre pressures.
That said, having finished the season in 10th, he probably would not have qualified for a MotoGP superlicence. But his performance trend and the future opportunities it would’ve opened up suggests he would’ve been a Moto2 frontrunner sooner rather than later.
Instead, there are two better examples on the MotoGP grid to make the case against superlicences, although both – unlike Binder – did compete in the intermediate class.
The most famous one is Aleix Espargaro, who was never even on the podium in 125cc and 250cc despite a not-insignificant amount of starts, yet has proven to be an extremely capable MotoGP rider, his career arc having so far culminated in a landmark podium for Aprilia earlier this year.
The other rider that springs to mind is Iker Lecuona, who scored just a pair of podium finishes during a span of three full-time Moto2 seasons, having elected to bypass Moto3 entirely.
Lecuona is soon to leave MotoGP and has proven accident-prone but has left little doubt as to having the requisite raw ability for the premier class in his time at Tech3 KTM.
