The message is subtle… but crystal clear. Alex Rins has publicly asked Yamaha Motor Company to pay more attention to him and the Pramac riders. This statement, implicitly, sounds like an almost official confirmation of Fabio Quartararo's departure at the end of 2026. Because if Yamaha is starting to redistribute its technical support, it's clear that the future already lies elsewhere.
It was logical that Yamaha has focused its efforts on QuarterlyWorld champion in 2021, first title since Jorge Lorenzo in 2015, only pilot Yamaha With a top-10 finish projected for 2025 and five pole positions last season, his legitimacy is hard to dispute. The M1 was designed around him. So was the V4 project. Developments first arrived in his garage, then went to the others.
Kidneys He does not dispute it, but he points to a reality: Now that Fabio seems to be changing teams next year, let's see if they'll give us a little more attention. »
And he clarifies: I'm not saying they didn't listen to me, nor Jack. But it is true that they are focusing a lot on Fabio, even though he deserved it through his results"Translation: The Quartararo era is coming to an end."
Kidneys He emphasizes a fundamental point: power is not the priority. It is true that we we are sorely lacking in top speed, but first we need to improve the grip, cornering stability and handling of the motorcycle. Without that, gaining 50 horsepower won't change anything; we won't go fast.. »
A radically different discourse from the obsessive quest for engine performance surrounding the V4.
Alex Rins: "I had to give my second motorcycle to Fabio Quartararo. Sharing is caring, right?" »
And internally, some are beginning to question the technical influence of Quarterly.
In 2025, the Frenchman would have, according to some analyses, "distorted" the DNA of the M1 by steering its development towards a very personal style, at the risk of distancing itself Yamaha of its historical foundations.
The frustration of Quarterly broke out at Buriram...with this middle finger gesture that went viral. A gesture that was not appreciated in Iwata.
Yamaha already struggling to stabilize his project MotoGP V4; it cannot afford an explosive internal climate.
The departure towards Honda The 2027 date now seems more than just a rumor. It looks like a predetermined path.
alex rins even revealed that he had lent one of his V4 motorcycles to Quarterly during the final day of testing in Thailand. I gave it to Fabio, my other motorcycle… I only had one motorcycle. I gave the second one to Fabio »
When asked about the decision, he explained: “They took me aside and asked me if I agreed. I told them: “What do you want me to do? I have to give him back my motorcycle. We have to continue working on this project.” We must be generous. " »
Then, with a wry smile: Sharing is loving, isn't it? "The sentence is light. The context, much less so."
Si Quarterly go, Yamaha will have to rebuild an internal hierarchy, redistribute technical responsibility, and restore cohesion. Rins, Jack Miller et Toprak Razgatlioglu They could then become the new voices of the project. And in Buriram, the process seems to have already begun.
