Fabio Quartararo is hiding what he really thinks about Yamaha’s V4 bike after Valencia test

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Fabio Quartararo is ramping up the pressure on Yamaha as they roll out the V4 bike for the 2026 MotoGP season.

The Frenchman got his hands on the machine at the post-season test in Valencia. Quartararo set the fastest lap of any Yamaha rider during the session in 14th, going almost a second clear of the next fastest, Toprak Razgatlioglu, in P18.

The pressure is on the Iwata outfit to develop the V4 into a competitive machine. Quartararo has threatened to leave Yamaha in 2027 as he has lost patience with the project.

He has not won a race since 2022 and is desperate to return to the front in MotoGP. The 26-year-old committed his future to Yamaha in 2024 with a two-year deal, but this will certainly be his last extension unless they improve the bike.

‘The feeling is’ that Fabio Quartararo was ‘far from satisfied’ with the V4 at the Valencia test

Yamaha’s star rider has already been critical of the V4. Quartararo was raging after Augusto Fernandez crashed at Sepang during his wildcard entry, hampering its development.

The Frenchman called for more wildcard appearances and tests for the bike to accelerate the progress. At Valencia, all four of Yamaha’s full-time riders got on the machine for the first time.

However, as per a report from MOW, Quartararo’s fastest lap in the test was not on the V4. During his first session, he went out ‘on the old M1’ and set his best time of the day.

He ‘did his utmost not to speak badly of the new project’, but the report suggests that that is not how he truly feels about the V4. ‘The feeling is’ that Quartararo was ‘far from satisfied’ with the bike in Valencia, highlighting how much work Yamaha need to do.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Fabio Quartararo from net worth to career stats

When will Fabio Quartararo decide his future in MotoGP?

Razgatlioglu, Alex Rins and Jack Miller were P18, P19 and P20 in the Valencia test and were almost 1.5 seconds off the benchmark set by Raul Fernandez. It is early days, but it paints a sour picture, especially for the impatient Quartararo.

Quartararo will decide his future before 2026, giving Yamaha limited time to convince him that he should stay put for 2027. The Frenchman could trigger chaos in the MotoGP rider market.

Ducati and Honda are interested in Quartararo – he will not be shy of suitors if he becomes available. Yamaha’s V4 must be capable of winning to ensure that their star rider is satisfied.

However, Yamaha will spend the first half of 2026 on development, which is something that Quartararo will not want to hear. He wants the bike to be fast from the off, and if it is not, he may decide to cut ties before the season has even started.