Fabio Quartararo Under Pressure at Sepang MotoGP Test 2026

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Fabio Quartararo of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP came under significant technical pressure during the 2026 Sepang Official MotoGP Test after Yamaha halted all on-track activities to investigate a problem affecting its new V4 engine project.

The issue emerged late on day one when Quartararo’s bike stopped on track, prompting Yamaha Motor Company to suspend Wednesday’s running as a precautionary measure. The decision was taken during an early phase of the V4 development programme, with rider safety and mechanical reliability prioritised over outright performance evaluation.

Extensive technical investigations were conducted overnight between Yamaha’s engineering bases in Japan and Italy, focusing on identifying the root cause before authorising a return to action at the Sepang International Circuit.

“Yesterday Fabio stopped on the track. We checked what the problem was and didn’t find a clear solution,” said Yamaha Technical Director Max Bartolini.
“We have an idea, but considering the safety of the riders – our riders and also the other riders – we decided to fully understand the issue before coming back on track.”

“That is why we chose not to run today and to continue checking. Hopefully, we can find a good solution this evening and be able to run tomorrow.”

Yamaha confirmed that the technical issue under investigation was not related to Quartararo’s fast Turn 5 lowside crash, which resulted in a finger injury and ruled him out of the remainder of the Sepang test. His absence reduced Yamaha’s development reference points at a time when the V4 engine is already considered down on outright power compared to rival manufacturers.

The final day of the test programme is being carried out by Alex Rins, Prima Pramac Yamaha riders Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu, alongside test riders Augusto Fernandez and Andrea Dovizioso. Early trackside observations indicated reduced rev limits on the straights, pointing to a conservative operational approach as part of Yamaha’s risk management strategy.

This situation is pivotal for Yamaha ahead of the final pre-season MotoGP test in Buriram, where Quartararo is expected to return. Conclusions drawn from Sepang will shape Yamaha’s engine development direction, its short-term competitiveness against key rivals, and its overall readiness for the 2026 MotoGP season.