Fabio Quartararo: Yamaha hasn’t made any “big steps” since 2024 Barcelona test

Fabio Quartararo believes Yamaha hasn’t made any “big steps” with its MotoGP bike since the Barcelona test at the end of last year.

The 2021 champion feels that the M1’s performance tailed off as Yamaha hasn’t been able to bring meaningful upgrades to the bike since the early part of the season.

Quartararo enjoyed an incredible run of form in the summer, scoring three consecutive pole positions and a podium finish at the Spanish Grand Prix.

However, results have proved harder to come by since in the second half of the year, with the Catalan Grand Prix marking the only time a Yamaha rider finished inside the top five in a Sunday race since the summer break.

The drop in form is at least partly down to Yamaha switching focus to the development of its V4-powered M1, which it intends on introducing next year as a replacement to its current inline-four bike.

“The biggest progress we made for 2025 was the test we did in Barcelona in 2024,” he said. 

“We tried a new chassis that gave us a bit of direction, but this season we haven't really made any big steps.

“We changed the aerodynamics a little bit, we changed the engine twice, but we can see that our top speed is very, very low. 

“However, I think the biggest step we took was in Barcelona, where we found a little more feeling on corner entry.

He added: “We saw that actually the best moments that we had were at the beginning of the year, the three races that were Le Mans, Jerez and Silverstone. 

“Since then we are really struggling, but I want to focus on myself and try to improve as a rider.”

Yamaha is organising a number of private tests in October and November to improve the M1 and boost its prospects for the 2026 season.

Asked if he is frustrated over the lack of progress at the Iwata-based marque, Quartararo said: “Right now, the equipment we have definitely doesn't give us a chance to fight for a top-five finish in the championship. 

“We need to work on that, and that's why I'm pushing the engineers to get a better bike for next year.”

Quartararo's V4 doubts

Augusto Fernandez, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Yamaha MotoGP

Yamaha has pinned all its hopes on its new V4 engine, having pressed ahead with its development despite the impending regulation changes in 2027.

Quartararo was not impressed with the new V4 motor after putting it through its paces in the Misano test last month, although other Yamaha riders were more encouraged by its performance.

While the V4-spec M1 is still in its infancy, and hence with a lot of room to improve, the Frenchman believes the current inline model remains a better choice for now.

‘Potentially, the 2026 project is the V4, but for me, the V4's potential is still a long way off from the inline four,” he said. “We know that the project has only just begun and that there is still a lot of work to be done. But for now, our bike's potential is higher than the V4's.”