Marco Bezzecchi
Fabio Quartararo is desperate for Yamaha to improve their bike as the 2021 MotoGP champion’s wait to return to the top step of a Grand Prix podium is now at 54 races.
It has even been 29 races since Quartararo earned his last podium and the last rostrum for a Yamaha rider. He has not stood on a podium since the 26-year-old secured third place at the 2023 Grand Prix of Indonesia and last scored a race win at the 2022 Grand Prix of Germany.
Only Honda have taken more Grand Prix wins than Yamaha in premier class history with 313 to 245 so far. Yet the best that a Yamaha rider has earned in the 2025 MotoGP season thus far is the P5 that satellite Pramac pilot Jack Miller enjoyed in the Grand Prix of the Americas.
Quartararo earned his best result of the 2025 season last time out at the Grand Prix of Qatar with P7. Factory Yamaha teammate Alex Rins has not been higher than the P11 the 29-year-old secured in the Argentina and Americas Grands Prix before securing P12 in Qatar, as well.
Max Bartolini hints Alex Rins’ riding style has hurt Yamaha developing Fabio Quartararo’s bike
Quartararo begs Yamaha improve their bike’s rear end as he cannot exploit their M1’s strong front with the lack of balance their package gives him. The Frenchman does not think he can maximise its acceleration as Quartararo says the rear of Yamaha’s bike lacks responsiveness.
Rins slammed Yamaha for getting ‘cooked’ on the straights in Qatar, as well, as Miller set the best top speed with the M1 at 350km/h (217.8mph) in the Lusail Sprint. It was just the 17th-best throughout the full weekend, with every rival eclipsing their maximin in the speed trap.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Fabio Quartararo from net worth to career stats
But Rins also appears to have played a part in Yamaha’s struggles developing the M1 as their technical director Max Bartolini has hailed the effect adding Pramac as their satellite team in 2025 has had by adding extra voices, instead of having two riders with ‘contrasting opinions’.
“Having a satellite team was the right choice and it is important because it allows us to have more riders with whom we can compare data, exchange opinions and see which riding style is best,” Bartolini said, via quotes by Motosprint.
“If you have four riders and three give a direction and only one is against it, it is easier to make a decision on development than having two who have contrasting opinions.”
Yamaha had ‘contrasting opinions’ as Alex Rins and Fabio Quartararo’s styles are so unlike
Bartolini’s comment hints at Rins being a bigger problem than Quartararo for developing the M1 after Yamaha gave Miller and Miguel Oliveira factory contracts to race for Pramac. Miller has a much more similar riding style to Quartararo’s than Rins, who is far from as aggressive.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Alex Rins from net worth to career stats
Rins has always preferred a smooth riding style as it allows him to carry more speed through the turns, whereas Quartararo – who can also be smooth for the corners – and Miller attack more easily. So, Rins could find Pramac’s arrival takes the M1 further from his ideal package.
But Quartararo even wants Yamaha to take the M1 away from one of his greatest strengths, which is braking. Quartararo feels Yamaha’s braking strength is ‘pointless’ if they cannot get past riders owing to their inline-four engine’s lack of power to their V4-engined opposition.
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