Marco Bezzecchi
Yamaha are looking to take a step forward in 2025 after a disappointing campaign last year. The Japanese manufacturer managed just 124 points in 2024.
Frustrations have been evident among the Yamaha camp with their lack of performance in recent years. Fabio Quartararo even demanded a ‘number one sticker’ to be removed from the garage as the 2021 champion did not want to live in the past.
But the mood has shifted in 2025 as Yamaha look to solve their issues. The manufacturer have struck a deal with Pramac for them to become their satellite team, giving them four bikes on the grid instead of two.
Yamaha ran all four of their full-time riders in the Shakedown in Malaysia under MotoGP’s concession system. This is to bridge the gap between the frontrunners and the backmarkers.
Three days of testing in Sepang followed as the riders got a proper feel for their 2025 machines. And it is clear Yamaha have made a ‘massive step forward’.
Fabio Quartararo’s Sepang Test lap on day three is eight tenths quicker than Yamaha’s best-ever time
Quartararo was third fastest on day three of testing in Malaysia behind Francesco Bagnaia and table topper Alex Marquez. It has been a solid outing for the Frenchman in Sepang as Quartararo had a positive look on his face after being out on track on the YZR-M1.
The 25-year-old’s best time on Friday was a 1:57:7 – two tenths down on Marquez at the top and half a second quicker than teammate Alex Rins.
Quartararo’s time is a ‘whopping’ eight tenths quicker than Yamaha’s best time set in Malaysia last year. With Ducati and Aprilia slower and KTM and Honda narrowly quicker, Jack Appleyard says it’s clear how significant of a jump Yamaha have made.
Speaking on MotoGP’s Midday Live stream on their YouTube channel, Appleyard said: “Coming into this Sepang test we had a ranking of the best ever lap, whether it be some of them in qualifying when we were last here in November, some of them coming in the test when we were last here 12 months ago.
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“Yamaha were at the bottom of that pile with a 57.5. The lap time by Fabio Quartararo today has meant that they’ve jumped up to second just behind Ducati, a 56.7.
“They’ve managed to fact a whooping eight tenths of a second. To put that into a little bit of perspective, Honda have improved by a tenth and a half, KTM have improved by a tenth and a half, Ducati around a tenth and a half slower, Aprilia two tenths slower than their previous best.
“So, that is a massive step forward that Yamaha have taken. We’ve been thinking that was the case over the shakedown and then the opening two days.
“We officially have it in a lap time form now that Yamaha have closed the gap to Aprilia and KTM and are going to be there fighting for regular podiums on a regular basis this year”.
What paddock insiders are saying about Yamaha’s progress
The Japanese manufacturer’s performance at Sepang is being noticed by rivals and others within the paddock. Many paddock insiders feel ‘really strongly’ about Yamaha’s progress – and Quartararo’s lap time on day three gives vindication to those thoughts.
Gino Borsoi says Yamaha have invested ‘so much money’ for the first time in MotoGP – a clear sign of their intention to propel themselves further up the grid.
The manufacturer also have big plans for the future. Yamaha are developing two bikes at once in a ‘pretty crazy’ move as they look to bring their V4 bike by 2026.
With Pramac on board as a satellite team, the future at Yamaha is exciting. Their progress in testing is clear to see and optimism will be high for a successful 2025 campaign.
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