New factory Yamaha MotoGP team rid🎉er Fabio Quartararo has revealed he contracted Covid in December.

Posting on Instagram, the young Frenchman – who won three races and led much of the 2020 world championship for the satellite Petronas team, before a late drop to eighth in the final standings - added that he🗹 is no🐻w back to 'top level' fitness.

Valentino Rossi, the rider Quartararo is replacing at Monster Yamaha this season, ꦰand Iker Lecuona are the only other MotoGP competitors known to have caught Covid to date𓄧 -  being forced to miss races as a result.

Rossi is taki꧒ng over Quartararo's former place at the Petronas Yamaha this year.

Quartararღo will join Maverick Vinales in presenting the latest 2021 Factory Yamaha colours during the team's online launch on February 15, foll💎owed by a track debut at the start of official MotoGP pre-season testing in Qatar early next month.

The 2021 season is then scheduled to begin, Covid restrictions permitting, w🌌ith back-to-back night races at Losail starting at the end of March. The postponement of Argentina and Austin means Portimao ha♓s been parachuted in as round three.