Yamaha Test Crisis Threatens Fabio Quartararo Future

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Yamaha faces a critical challenge in its efforts to retain Fabio Quartararo after a troubled Sepang MotoGP Test exposed both technical uncertainty and a lack of convincing performance from the new V4 M1 ahead of the 2026 season.

In a broader historical context, Yamaha’s inability to dominate MotoGP over the past seven years despite having a generational talent like Quartararo risks being remembered as one of the modern era’s greatest missed opportunities. Quartararo’s rise was not inevitable. When he entered the grand prix paddock in Moto3 in 2015, expectations were sky-high, but by the start of the 2018 Moto2 season, that momentum had faded significantly.

It was Petronas SRT that identified the remaining potential, offering Quartararo a MotoGP debut in 2019. An impressive pre-season immediately set the tone. He went on to score seven podiums that year, narrowly missing victories at San Marino and Thailand, establishing himself as Yamaha’s long-term prospect.

The breakthrough arrived in 2020 with three race wins, though inconsistent machinery saw his title challenge collapse late in the season. In hindsight, this volatility foreshadowed the limitations that would later define the Quartararo–Yamaha partnership.

Everything aligned in 2021. Quartararo stormed to his first MotoGP world title, delivering Yamaha its first championship since the era of Jorge Lorenzo. While the long-anticipated duel with Marc Marquez never fully materialised due to the Spaniard’s injury, the season validated Yamaha’s decision to elevate Quartararo to the factory team at the expense of Valentino Rossi.

However, what should have marked the beginning of a new Yamaha dynasty instead unravelled. In 2022, Quartararo claimed three wins but ultimately lost the title to Pecco Bagnaia, who overturned a 91-point deficit as Ducati emerged with the benchmark bike.

The decline accelerated. Quartararo managed just three podiums in 2023, slipping to 10th in the standings. In 2024, Yamaha reached its competitive low point, with Quartararo extracting a single podium in Spain and six pole positions, finishing ninth with 201 points—more than his three Yamaha team-mates combined.

By late 2025, Quartararo was already applying pressure on Yamaha to deliver a competitive package if the manufacturer hoped to retain him beyond 2026. To its credit, Yamaha committed substantial resources to developing a V4 engine concept alongside its 2027 850cc project. Yet even before winter testing, the V4 had failed to fully convince Quartararo.

At Sepang, the situation deteriorated further. Quartararo suffered a high-speed crash at Turn 5 early on the opening day of the official test, breaking a finger. Despite returning to the track later that afternoon and finishing ninth overall—nearly four tenths clear of the next-best Yamaha ridden by Jack Miller—he elected to sit out the remainder of the test after already completing two days at the Shakedown.

On Wednesday, Yamaha’s problems deepened. Reports emerged of a major technical issue affecting the V4. Quartararo described experiencing an “electrical” problem during Tuesday afternoon’s running, prompting Yamaha to halt all on-track activity on safety grounds.

Yamaha technical director Max Bartolini explained the decision.

Yesterday Fabio stopped on the track.
We checked what the problem was and didn’t find a clear solution.

We have an idea, but considering the safety of the riders—our riders and also the other riders—we decided to fully understand the problem before coming back on track.

So we decided not to run today and to keep checking.
Hopefully we can find a good solution and run tomorrow.

Speed trap data only added to concerns. Yamaha sat at the bottom of the charts, with its fastest M1 approximately 10km/h slower than the benchmark set by Enea Bastianini on the KTM. If the issues stem from attempts to extract more power, the implications for future development are severe, as sustained running at reduced output compromises meaningful progress.

In parallel, Honda has shown tangible signs of recovery. Joan Mir topped Wednesday’s timesheets, while test rider Aleix Espargaro described the 2026 RC213V as the best MotoGP bike he has ridden. Although such claims require validation over several race weekends, the contrast with Yamaha’s stagnation is difficult to ignore.

Yamaha managing director Paolo Pavesio acknowledged the significance of the moment.

Fabio has been with Yamaha for seven years and this is year eight of a long relationship.
This moment is important to reassess where we are.

We are doing our best to create a better Yamaha package.
If this convinces Fabio to stay, I would be very happy; if it convinces him to move elsewhere, we have to accept it.

For Yamaha, the challenge is now clear. The brand never expected instant success with its first modern-era V4, but it needed to show credible direction this winter. Instead, Sepang has so far reinforced the doubts surrounding the project—and, in doing so, strengthened the case for Quartararo to look elsewhere for a machine capable of winning now.