MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Fabio Quartararo finished 14th at the 2026 Thai MotoGP in Buriram for Yamaha Factory Racing, as the Japanese manufacturer cancelled its rider media duties following a deeply disappointing weekend.
Yamaha’s new V4 project was expected to signal a competitive reset after years of decline since its 2021 title-winning inline-four era. However, at Buriram, the M1 failed to demonstrate strength in any key metric. It was the slowest bike through the speed traps, struggled for rear grip, and appeared less agile than its predecessor.
Quartararo was the leading Yamaha in qualifying in 16th, almost 0.9s adrift of the Q1 benchmark. In Sunday’s grand prix, he again led the quartet of M1s home in 14th place, but finished 30.823s behind race winner Marco Bezzecchi on the factory Aprilia.
On race pace, Bezzecchi averaged 1m31.390s per lap, despite recording mid-1m33s and a low 1m34s across the final two laps. Quartararo, by contrast, averaged 1m32.468s — over a second per lap slower than the race leader at one of the shorter circuits on the calendar.
Yamaha had openly framed the first half of the 2026 season as an extended development phase. Mechanical issues that cost valuable testing time in Sepang underlined the scale of the challenge. Feedback during the Thai weekend remained subdued, with Quartararo stating he does not expect new engine specifications before May and admitting there is currently no clear development direction.
At the chequered flag in Buriram, Yamaha classified 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th — its worst start to a season in the modern MotoGP era. While riders occasionally skip Sunday media duties at flyaway events due to travel logistics, it is rare for a manufacturer to replace all rider appearances with senior management representation.
Yamaha chief Paolo Pavesio addressed the media directly on Sunday afternoon.
“Right now, I think it’s right for me to explain where we are,” Pavesio said.
“We are at a point where we see the difference that separates us from the fastest, and we have a mountain to climb.”
“It won’t be overnight, there’s no magic. Every time we go out on the track we discover things.”
The remarks suggest Yamaha recognises the performance deficit as structural rather than temporary. With the 2027 rider market already in motion and competitive gaps widening, Buriram has highlighted the magnitude of the rebuild required if Yamaha is to return to championship contention in the near future.
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Baca Juga
Marco Bezzecchi bangkit dari tiga crash Sabtu dan menangi MotoGP Thailand 2026, pimpin kebangkitan Aprilia.
Marc Marquez minta tenang usai rekor podium Ducati terhenti di MotoGP Thailand 2026 meski gagal finis akibat kerusakan roda.
Joan Mir gagal finis di MotoGP Thailand 2026 akibat kerusakan ban belakang saat berpeluang masuk lima besar.
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