MotoGP, Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha: between humor and reality after this off-season

MotoGP pre-season is often a comedy of errors, where laughter sometimes masks bitter truths. Fabio Quartararo slid into the Ducati wall in Buriram, brandishing a red sign with the word “BOX” at Marc Marquez. “It was the only way to go faster than him,” Quartararo said with a smile, but behind the joke lurked a heavier reality for him and Yamaha.

The MotoGP pre-season has offered its share of twists and turns, and Yamaha was no exception to the rule. If the atmosphere within the team seems good, the results of the tests of Buriram raise new questions.

The 2025 MotoGP pre-season was marked by moments both comical and revealing for Yamaha , but also by persistent challenges. During the tests at Buriram, Fabio Quartararo attracted attention by sneaking into Ducati and holding up a red sign with the word "BOX", suggesting to Marc Marquez to return to the pits. A humorous gesture on the part of the Frenchman, but which reveals a more worrying reality for Yamaha . “ It was the only way to go faster than him." , joked Quarterly after this episode. But behind this joke, the state of mind at Yamaha is clear: considerable efforts are needed to return to the top.

After a promising test at SepangWhere Quarterly showed a solid performance, Buriram brought back Yamaha in a more difficult situation. There are still tenths missing: we are starting without any objectives" , told Quarterly, highlighting the team's slow progress. On the second day of testing, he finished eighth, 0,731 seconds behind Marquez, and although he tried to see the bright side of things, he admitted that some aspects remained worrying. The feeling with the front tire is still not good", he added, a recurring problem that seems to be slowing down his progress.

Fabio Quartararo: “ I am not pessimistic, on the contrary! But it is clear that we are still missing something. »

The conditions to Buriram were different from those of Sepang, but despite everything, Quarterly had to deal with a performance deficit, especially with the front. I am still at three tenths of a second because I don't have the feeling I want with the front" he explained, while trying to remain optimistic: " I am not pessimistic, on the contrary!" An attitude that shows resignation, but also hope that Yamaha will eventually find the right answers.

For his part, his teammate alex rins had a similar test. Although he showed great improvement in Sepang, he finished 17th at Buriram with a best time of 1'30.062. However, the Spaniard remained positive: " My driving is smoother and more consistent than last year." . If Quarterly identifies problems with the front, Kidneys points out another weak point, that of rear grip. Lack of grip at the rear" he explained, stressing that although progress has been made in terms of top speed, the traction problems persistent.

The dilemma therefore remains the same for Yamaha : although they have gained in top speed, the problems of traction and competitiveness in corners remain. We haven't improved grip, but we have gained top speed. But it's clear that we're still missing something." , recognised Quarterly. Despite everything, he remains optimistic: " We are on the right track, but we must continue to work hard. Testing is one thing, racing is another"

Despite difficulties, Yamaha continues to look for solutions. With two riders in the top ten and two behind, the situation remains uncertain, but the team seems determined to progress. For now, the only hope of surpassing Ducati It seems that the Borgo Panigale team is spending more time in the pits than on the track. The coming weeks will be crucial to find out if Yamaha can overcome its weaknesses and fight for the top spots in this season of MotoGP.