Marco Bezzecchi
Yamaha have made clear progress over the winter and are on course to enjoy a far better MotoGP campaign in 2025.
After finishing inside the top three of the timings on all three days of the Sepang test, Fabio Quartararo struggled at the Buriram test and then the Grand Prix of Thailand.
It may have been track dependent, as their satellite Pramac team seemed to have more pace than them in the intense Asian heat.
Encouraging signs have still been there for a manufacturer who suffered one of its worst ever MotoGP seasons in 2024.
Jack Miller thinks Yamaha have pulled a U-turn by transforming the way they operate and having four identical bikes on the grid.
It should aid their development in the future. Yamaha are convinced one aspect of their operation isn’t good enough yet, but their V4 engine should be in a good position by 2027.
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The upcoming Argentina Grand Prix is an opportunity for the Japanese manufacturer to get back on track with their plans for 2025.
It’s acceptable to write the opening round of the season off as an anomaly, considering that temperatures were touching 40 degrees Celsius in Buriram – not so optimum for MotoGP bikes. Alex Rins in particular struggled for them.
Speaking to Giovanni Zamagni for Moto.it, Yamaha boss Paolo Pavesio revealed that their new structure is a big reason for their winter gains.
“We can certainly use it, it’s still a difficult time, but I think the winter has already given us some signals,” he said. “Beyond the tenths of a second it has given us the signal that it’s a new way of working, and I’m referring above all to the four-rider, two-team structure and what’s behind it in terms of engineering support.
“It’s already making it clear that the path is right, we’ve already said it many times, they are four factory riders with the same treatment, so there’s the technical aspect if you want the data, but there’s also the sporting aspect of pushing each other.”
How long will it take for Yamaha and Fabio Quartararo to win again?
Quartararo has experienced a steady downturn in fortunes ever since winning his maiden MotoGP crown in 2021.
His title defence saw him finish second behind Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia in 2022, before a 10th place in 2023 and 13th in 2024.
A wise prediction would be for Yamaha to be competing at the front again in 2027 when the new bike regulations arrive.
Any sooner would be a monumental effort, despite the concession system permitting them to continue to develop their engine for the next two years, unlike their European rivals.
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