Marco Bezzecchi
Yamaha suffered an instant setback as MotoGP testing got underway at Sepang on Tuesday. Star rider Fabio Quartararo is out for the final two days after breaking his finger.
Quartararo is confident that the injury won’t derail him, having had the chance to sample the 2026 bike during last week’s Shakedown. Yamaha’s full-time riders are afforded more testing opportunities due to their lowly concessions rank (D).
The 2021 world champion was once again Yamaha’s lead rider on Tuesday, but his best time was still over eight-tenths off the benchmark set by Ducati’s Marc Marquez.
What impact will Fabio Quartararo’s injury have on his season?
Pramac’s Jack Miller was next in 14th, with Alex Rins 16th and newcomer Toprak Razgatlioglu down in 20th. Test riders Andrea Dovizioso and Augusto Fernandez, both a few seconds off the pace, propped up the order.
Yamaha’s 2026 bike won’t be finished until the final race, says Paolo Pavesio
In an interview with Speedweek, Yamaha boss Paolo Pavesio indicated that the performance of the bike was in line with expectations.
Yamaha are switching to a V4 engine this year after finally acknowledging that their inline four was outdated. This brings them in line with the other manufacturers.
But Yamaha have only just started developing the V4, whereas rivals have been honing it for years. That’s why the team are thinking long-term.
Picking up where he left off, is this the start of MotoGP title #8 for Marc Marquez? 🧐
Let us know in the comments below!
Indeed, 2026 will be a year of constant development, continuing all the way to round 22 in Valencia this November.
“We are 15 years behind in terms of V4 technology, and we are using 2026 to learn,” said Pavesio. “We are investing enormous resources to lay the foundation for 2027, and I am already certain that we will be in an even better position next year than we were in 2026.
“There’s no expiration date – we’re working towards a dynamic goal, because of course the competition doesn’t stand still during the season either. We won’t see the finished 2026 M1s until Valencia.”
‘Our lap times weren’t very good’ – Fabio Quartararo on Yamaha’s V4 bike
It was reported last week that Quartararo is joining Honda for the 2027 season, though he has since denied signing a contract.
Still, if he has chosen to leave Yamaha already, he may feel vindicated after his first laps of 2026. Quartararo’s verdict at the end of Tuesday’s running was strikingly pessimistic.
“I can’t say I’m confident,” he said, via Speedweek. “You could see how much we were struggling. Our lap times weren’t very good. The only thing I can do is give it my best shot.
Asked if he has adapted his own style to the new bike, he said: “Yes, completely. I immediately felt what I needed to change. But I think our V4 isn’t as refined as the others’.
“We still have a lot of work ahead of us – regarding turn-in, traction, electronics, grip, and power. There are still many things that need adjusting.”
After the three-day Sepang test has concluded, there are another two days of running in Buriram, which subsequently plays host to round one.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
