Petronas Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo yesterday became the first Frenchman to win a MotoGP race for 21 years, carrying on from where Regis Laconi left off at Valencia in 1999.

The Nice rider, who was born in that year, put on a controlled display to bag his maiden victory but admitted it wasn't without its stresses.

“The last 10 laps were the longest 10 laps of my life, to be focused in these kind of conditions where the grip is really low," said the Frenchman.

“It was a really tough race because first of all I didn’t do a good start and I was fifth behind Pecco and Jack, we know that behind the Ducatis it is so tough to do our corner speed, especially in the last sectors, but I overtook them both at the last corner and then I saw Marc’s mistake.

"It was difficult to catch Maverick, who did a small mistake at turn 6 and then I make my own pace.

“It feels amazing but strange to realise it, because there are no fans around the track, but as soon as I get down with the mechanics it will be exactly the same.

We need to enjoy it today because it is not every day you have your first MotoGP victory.”

Quaratararo revealed that he thought his race was over when the M1 refused to go into gear - exactly what happened last year when he was leading at Jerez and the quickshifter broke.

“I had one of the scariest moments of the race, was exactly the same place, I wanted to put the gear and it [makes noise]. I say, ‘Oh no, not like last year’. Finally I downshifted, I just missed the gear shifter."