The world of racing and more so MotoGP is tremendously complex, so seeing things from a single point of view is complicated. Perhaps that is why Yamaha has decided to make a public move and talk about Fabio Quartararo after the Aragon GP. An appointment that was complicated for those from Iwata both in the sporting aspect and because of the Frenchman’s statements.
And knowing that he will go to Honda at the end of the season, Fabio has not bothered to hide his opinions and feelings about what he is experiencing with the Japanese manufacturer. Although Yamaha has been taking steps for some time, especially with the introduction of the new V4, Quartararo has always been very critical in public.
The 2021 champion’s frustration is, in some ways, understandable. He is a rider who since he debuted in the then FIM CEV, today called FIM MotoJunior, has shown signs of indisputable quality and speed. But he has also shown ample evidence of a lack of consistency when everything has not gone smoothly.
Quartararo raises the tone and Yamaha responds
So going from being one of the candidates for the MotoGP title to fighting to get into the points is something that, evidently, has not worked in his favor and his desperation has a certain basis. But we must not forget that in the last renewal he decided to stay and bet on a project that, to be honest, has not evolved as expected from Yamaha, but in which the technical part was not the only argument for Quartararo to sign.
Therefore, and as is public, the relationship between both parties has been deteriorating. Accusations in the media of Yamaha’s lack of evolution have been the trend, but they reached the point of no return after the Aragon GP. And during it, Fabio accused Yamaha, on the one hand, of using him as a test driver for new parts and on the other of not letting him attend the tests in Austria where the Pirelli tires will be tested, while adding that he had no interest in contributing to the development of the 2027 M1.
A cascade of statements that has ended up finding a response from two of Yamaha’s top managers in MotoGP. On the one hand, we have the statements of Paolo Pavesio, executive director of Yamaha Motor Racing, who was blunt before L’Équipe: “Fabio regularly complains that we are not developing the bike, and when we ask him to try new parts he reproaches us, saying that he is lost,” Pavesio said. “It lacks a bit of objectivity. Of course, we are not at the level we would like to be at. But, like our rivals, we are trying to move forward.”
But the one who went a step further in his statements was Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha’s MotoGP director, who not only explained the reasons that led him to dispense with Quartararo in the tests, but also left him a “message.” Regarding the Austrian tests, Meregalli confirmed the presence of Razgatlioglu and, perhaps, Guevara while justifying his decision:
“For the test in Austria, we will use Razgatlioglu and most probably Guevara because they will be with us next year.”
To add: “All the manufacturers (who part ways with their riders) have made this decision. Martín and Ogura will not test the Aprilia, Bagnaia will not test the Ducati, Acosta will not test the KTM, and we will not let Miller test our 850 cc either…”
The final shot and, without a doubt, the most obvious call to attention to Quartararo was left for last: “Fabio should take Jack as an example, as he always gives his all and makes sure that even when we are going through a difficult time, good spirits are maintained.” A reproach that makes it clear that if Fabio is not happy with Yamaha, Yamaha is not happy with Fabio either. A tense situation when there are still nine GPs ahead or eight in case Qatar ends up being cancelled.
