MotoGP fans have called Fabio Quartararo out for his “unprofessional” remarks after suggesting that he will now take a step back from the development of Yamaha’s bike.
Quartararo has been the figurehead of the Yamaha project ever since he replaced Valentino Rossi in their factory team and won the MotoGP riders’ title in 2021. Yamaha even rewarded the 26-year-old by making him one of the highest-paid riders on the grid at £10.5m per year.
But Yamaha have since failed to hand Quartararo another bike he can contend for titles with since he briefly fought Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia for the 2022 title. Quartararo led Bagnaia by 91 points after the first 10 out of the 20 races, yet he ended the season 17 points behind.
Quartararo and Yamaha have not won a Grand Prix since the Frenchman won in Germany in 2022, either – a run now stretching 71 races. So, after also seeing Yamaha struggle with their new-for-2026 V4 engine, it emerged this January that Quartararo will join Honda from 2027.
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MotoGP fans criticise Fabio Quartararo for backing away from developing Yamaha’s bike
With one foot out of the door at Yamaha, Quartararo has seldom held back in his critique of the V4 YZR-M1. Speaking at the United States Grand Prix, Quartararo claimed Yamaha have “no idea” how to fix their bike after the Yamaha stable all finished in the final four positions.
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Quartararo ignored Yamaha managing director Paolo Pavesio’s request to keep his issues in-house with his comments about the M1 at COTA. The Nice native also revealed in Texas that he now intends to take a step back from the development of the Yamaha M1 going forward.
“I think that now I try to be a little bit out of the development, because I think I have already said what we need, what they have to do,” he claimed, via The Race. “But I will not repeat it every time. Right now, every time they know what I said, they know what all the riders said.”
Quartararo suggesting that he no longer intends to help Yamaha develop the M1 ahead of a key in-season test at Jerez on April 27 has not gone down well among MotoGP fans. One fan on Instagram even called Quartararo an “unprofessional athlete” by refusing to aid Yamaha.
Another fan suggested: “I like Fabio, but he’s coming across as surly and childish (and a very well-paid one at that).” One fan also claimed: “Bye! Don’t let the door hit you on your way out! No one needs your negative comments, anyway.”
Quartararo airing his dirty laundry in public once again was not missed by one fan, who said: “Again and again, something that must be kept internally but said to the media instead.”
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One MotoGP fan has even suggested that Yamaha should demote Quartararo to Pramac and promote Toprak Razgatlioglu into their factory line-up for the remainder of the season. They liken it to the Red Bull F1 team, who are never afraid to demote drivers back to Racing Bulls.
“I’m a Yamaha fan and I like Fabio, but he is paid VERY WELL!” they said. “He should mind his manners, ride the bike, and be respectful to a company that bends over backwards for him. Time for Fabio to move on. Swap him with Toprak, like Red Bull do in F1.”
A few fans even reacted to Quartararo claiming he will step back from the development of the Yamaha M1 by questioning what he has done to develop the bike. One said, “He never stepped in,” while another said: “Developing what? Chest shaving cream, zippers, or what?”
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