Have the wheels come off Yamaha’s MotoGP title bid?

Little was learned on track due to the conditions on Friday at the MotoGP European Grand Prix. But events off it have put Yamaha firmly into the spotlight, and it appears its championship challenge is risking coming off the rails…

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Oxford Languages defines a disaster as "an event or a fact that has unfortunate consequences". That moment for Yamaha occurred back in July, when the MotoGP manufacturer used illegal engines for its four riders fitted with different valves to the ones homologated pre-season.

The Spanish Grand Prix weekend was one plagued by engine issues for Yamaha. Valentino Rossi was forced out of the season-opener when his motor expired, while Maverick Vinales lost engine two of his allotted five for the campaign in practice. Still, Fabio Quartararo won on the Petronas SRT M1 and Vinales trailed him home in second, making it appear as if all was rosy in the garden.

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Author Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan is Autosport's International Editor and primary MotoGP reporter. A motorsport fan from a young age, Lewis became interested in journalism when he won the star letter competition in the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing Magazine. A member of the Autosport Academy from 2017, Lewis became a freelance motorcycle racing correspondent for Autosport in 2019 before becoming a full-time staffer in 2020 as International Editor.

While MotoGP coverage is his priority, Lewis also covers other motorcycle racing across the Motorsport Network, and hosts the Tank Slappers Podcast. He has also occasionally commentated on 750 Motor Club meetings. Away from motorsport, Lewis is a keen record collector with a collection unashamedly largely featuring Iron Maiden and Rush and an avid guitar player.