Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi expects Fabio Quartararo to be “really strong” in the 850cc MotoGP era from 2027, but only if Honda do one thing with their recent signing.
Quartararo will leave the Yamaha stable for the first time in his MotoGP career at the end of 2026, having signed a two-year deal to join their arch Japanese rivals Honda from 2027. The Frenchman has lost faith in Yamaha, so is betting on Honda delivering under the 850cc rules.
MotoGP will introduce a major regulatory overhaul in 2027 that could see the likes of Honda and Yamaha return to the top after years stuck in the wilderness. The headline change is the reduction in engine capacity from 1,000 to 850cc, along with banning all ride height devices.
What version of Fabio Quartararo will we see at Honda next year?
Davide Tardozzi feels Fabio Quartararo must be managed ‘in the right way’ to show his skills
There have been claims that some in the MotoGP paddock suspect that Quartararo’s natural riding style may not suit 850cc bikes, for which there will also be more aero restrictions next year. Yet Ducati team boss Tardozzi fully expects to see the 2021 champion at his best again.
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Tardozzi is a big admirer of Quartararo’s talents, so would not be shocked to see him emerge as a thorn in Ducati’s side again when the Nice native leaves Yamaha for Honda. But Tardozzi has noticed that Quartararo has to be managed “in the right way” for him to show his skills.
“It’s a competition, and the rivals are certainly good. They’re proving that this year,” Tardozzi told Misterhelmet: I reckon it’ll be even more competitive next year.
“But, having said that, the real skill lies in choosing the riders you think can bring home the world title. I believe that for next year – well, actually, for the next two years – we’ve got a really, really strong team. Really, really strong.
“That said, I don’t mean to suggest there aren’t other strong riders, because there certainly are. For example, next year Fabio will be incredibly competitive.
“I believe that Fabio Quartararo is a super, super, hyper-talented rider who, if managed in the right way, can cause headaches – and big ones at that.
“Then, of course, Marco Bezzecchi has certainly proved himself to be very good. But there are others too. I won’t name them all now.”
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Quartararo was Ducati’s fiercest rival back in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, as the Frenchman beat Francesco Bagnaia to win the 2021 title before falling short to the Italian in 2022. But a third title fight between Quartararo and Ducati has yet to materialise, as Yamaha have fallen away from the top of the MotoGP tree while the Borgo Panigale brand have built a dynasty.
Yamaha’s failure to maintain their presence at the front of the field and subsequent failures to return to the front have now seen Quartararo elect to walk away once his contract lapses at the end of 2026. Quartararo has signed a two-year contract with Honda, where he will be the main man alongside Diogo Moreira or David Alonso (with the other due to race for LCR).
Quartararo has used Yamaha’s years of pain to his advantage, though, as the Frenchman has only got better as a rider due to the YZR-M1’s deficiencies – both with an inline four engine and a V4. The 27-year-old has had to extract everything he can from the M1 in recent years, especially during qualifying and under braking to try to give himself any chance to compete.
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