Fabio Quartararo is hopeful he can win over the Valentino Rossi tifosi when he replaces the Italian in the Yamaha Factory team for the 2021 Mot♓oGP World Championship.

The Frenchman earned his place in the works outfit after a sensational maiden MotoGP campaign witꦉh the Petronas SRT Yamaha team in 2019, Quartararo being paired with Maverick Vinales from 2021 onwards.

With Rossi still deliberating over whether he will venture the other way♔ and ride a full-factory Yamaha M1 under the Petronas SRT banner, Quartararo is excited by the opportunity to join the ✃front-running outfit in what will be only his third season of MotoGP.

However, he admits it is strange to be doing so by replacing his ‘idol’, a rider he admits he followed during hi🐎s first FP1 session in Qatar last year so as to learn from him.

While Rossi’s departure has caused ructions among Rossi’s most devoted supporters,🧸 Quartararo wants to do them proud.

“The relationship between me and him [Rossi] is very good, but it’s always strange to talk to Vale bec꧙ause I am talking to my idol, and that’s why I’m always a little nervous♈,” he told .

“I remember that the first thing I did in Qatar FP1 was to do some laps with him. I have 🅺often looked⛄ at his data, but this is also a bit special for me.

“I’m half-Italian and I hope the Italian fans aren’t angry. It will see strange at the end of the season to tဣake that bike, every rider dreams of going to Valentino’s team.”

Reflecting on the challenges to come, Quartararo says he wants to make the most of the opportuni🃏ty.

“I’m calm, after all it’s the best thing that could𝓀 have happened to me in this period.”