Marco Bezzecchi
Marco Melandri has warned the Yamaha MotoGP team that their higher-ups will “cut off” their funding at the end of the season if they continue to struggle in the premier class.
Yamaha’s first race in the 2026 MotoGP season with their new V4-powered prototype left a lot to be desired in Thailand, with all four of the riders in the Japanese constructor’s stable occupying spots in the bottom six at the chequered flag.
While it was to be expected, given the limited time engineers have had to produce the new bike spec, it marks another year of Yamaha competing at the back of the grid.
Predict the order of the Yamaha riders in the 2026 MotoGP standings
Pre-season was marred by a multitude of technical issues with the bike, and Yamaha staff are now bracing themselves for pit-lane starts because of the sheer unreliability of their new power unit.
It’s no secret that the Iwata-based MotoGP outfit’s financial prowess is second-to-none on the grid, but former premier class rider Marco Melandri has warned the team that they may face tough consequences if they fail to improve results by the end of the year.
- READ MORE: MotoGP fans think Toprak Razgatlioglu can beat Fabio Quartararo after seeing his Pramac debut
Marco Melandri says Yamaha’s funding will be ‘cut off’ if they mess up 2026
In a recent interview with GPOne, Melandri was asked for his thoughts on Toprak Razgatlioglu’s MotoGP debut with Pramac.
Despite finishing outside the points, the three-time World Superbikes champion impressed in Buriram as he managed to beat his seasoned veteran teammate, Jack Miller, on his first attempt.
The Italian said, “Toprak is going through a tough phase, but I’m convinced he’ll be very strong in 2027. Yamaha can’t afford to mess up another season, because if they do, the funding will be cut off from above.
“Toprak did well, though, because he was on par with the other Yamaha riders. On that note, I feel bad for [Fabio] Quartararo, who’s depressed about the situation he’s in, and I can understand why.”
Where does Fabio Quartararo rank among Yamaha’s greatest riders?
Quartararo’s displeasure with Yamaha has been in the public eye for quite a while now, with his frustrations with the previous inline-four engine layout understood to be the catalyst for the Japanese constructor pursuing a V4 instead.
The Frenchman has decided to look for greener pastures with one of Yamaha’s closest rivals instead. While it has yet to be confirmed, it is understood that Quartararo was finalising a deal to sign with Honda for the 2027 MotoGP season in January.
- READ MORE: Giacomo Agostini says Yamaha make ‘20,000’ motorcycles a day but ‘can’t produce a competitive bike’
Yamaha’s open chequebook is no longer enough to attract the best MotoGP riders
With Quartararo on his way out of Yamaha, the factory team are in need of a new MotoGP superstar to lead their charge on race weekends.
Jorge Martin has been suggested to have signed a deal to replace the 2021 world champion at Iwata, and Razgatlioglu has also been tipped to be rewarded with a factory ride during his sophomore season in the premier class.
However, that hasn’t stopped Yamaha’s top brass from pursuing other top prospects in the rider market.
MotoGP fans thought Francesco Bagnaia was eyeing a move to Yamaha due to the financial advantages they offer, but it seems their open chequebook no longer carries the same weight it once did.
The factory Ducati man opted for Aprilia instead, reportedly signing a four-year deal with Noale ahead of Pedro Acosta’s expected move to Borgo Panigale.
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