The 2025 MotoGP season has started better for some than others, with Ducati clearly leading the way at the front of the pack.
Honda’s winter resurgence has been really impressive, while Aprilia and KTM have been a little disappointing and perhaps haven’t shown their true MotoGP pace yet.
On the evidence of pre-season testing, Yamaha have underdelivered the most, after looking like the second-fastest team.
Fabio Quartararo was setting blinding times in Sepang, only for them to turn up in Buriram with one of the slowest bikes. They haven’t been able to recover from there yet.
After spending enough time on their new bike, Quartararo believes Yamaha’s ‘biggest problem’ is a lack of grip.
Three races into the new campaign and already Yamaha have multiple areas of ‘concern’. They have a long road of development ahead of them.
Carlo Pernat expects Fabio Quartararo to remain with Yamaha ‘forever’
Quartararo had a ‘pretty bad’ Grand Prix of the Americas and could only manage 10th during a fairly attritional race. He would have expected more.
For all the Japanese manufacturer’s performance isn’t where they want it to be currently, Carlo Pernat believes that the Frenchman is in their operation for the long haul.
“In principle, yes, but I find it much more difficult that Fabio could leave Yamaha,” he told MowMag.
“One because if Ducati had a bike it is Acosta that he would think of, given that he is much younger, and two because in the end Quartararo made his choice two years ago and probably today he is in a position to remain faithful to that decision, forever tying his name to a brand.
“Also because it is unthinkable that Yamaha will not arrive, the KTM issue is very different. They will arrive and Quarataro will be there.”
With the 2027 regulations around the corner, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Competing at the top before then would be nothing but a bonus for the 2021 champion.
READ MORE: Fabio Quartararo outlines the change at Yamaha which ‘must be done’ ahead of the 2026 MotoGP season
What Fabio Quartararo expected Yamaha to do ‘much better’ over the winter
With Honda and Yamaha the two beneficiaries of MotoGP’s concession system, both are exempt from a current two-year engine freeze on development.
It means that they can benefit from bringing more power to their bikes before the start of the new regulations in 2027.
However, Quartararo expected ‘much better’ from Yamaha this winter and was hoping to see more performance from their upgrades.
Fortunately, they have a strong budget and 19 more races this season to make their mark and catch up to their rivals. It isn’t going to happen in one day.
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