The Malaysian and Sepang tests had put stars in the eyes of Yamaha fans: the YZR-M1 seemed ready to play spoilsport in MotoGP 2025. But after two rounds in Thailand and Argentina, reality hit hard: 13 points on the scoreboard, behind KTM and Aprilia (22 points each), and far behind Ducati (61 points). Worse, compatriot Honda has gained 26 points and is establishing itself as the heir apparent to the formidable Borgo Panigale crest. Carlo Pernat, Bastianini's manager and columnist, like Fabio himself, makes a bitter observation: something is wrong with Iwata!
Hopes raised by pre-season tests in Malaysia and Sepang quickly dissipated for Yamaha , which appears to be the least competitive manufacturer at the start of the 2025 MotoGP season. fabio quartararo, the brand's flagship driver, expressed his bitterness after a disappointing performance in Argentina, While Carlo Pernat, who needs no introduction, pointed out the shortcomings in the development of the YZR-M1.
In the first two races of the season, Quarterly was beaten by drivers from rival brands, including those from Yamaha . In Argentina, the Frenchman finished far behind the leaders, showing palpable frustration. For me, There is nothing positive to take away from this weekend. I don't think we can really get anything out of it. The single lap in qualifying was perhaps acceptable, as we were only a tenth and a half off the front row. But in terms of race pace, it was really a disaster. ", said Quarterly.
Carlo Pernat criticizes Yamaha's development
Charles Pernat for his part stressed that Yamaha seems to be missing something in terms of development. Yamaha was a bit stuck, we all expected more, we even saw it in the test sessions. Instead of something that still doesn't work there, maybe there is still some important development missing, maybe there is some part of the development that is not correct. Seeing Quartararo there makes it clear that they are not there yet. “, he said on GP One.
In anticipation of the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Quarterly prefers not to have any illusions. Every time I expect something, the opposite happens. So I don't know what to expect, and I prefer not to expect anything at all.. " This caution reflects the difficult situation in which Yamaha , who must quickly find solutions to improve the competitiveness of his motorcycle.
Yamaha is going through a complicated period at the start of the 2025 season, with a YZR-M1 which seems to be lagging behind its rivals. The disappointing performances of Quarterly en Argentina highlighted the shortcomings in the development of the motorcycle, and the criticisms of Carlo Pernat underline the urgency for Yamaha to react. As the championship continues, Yamaha must redouble its efforts to find the path to success and enable Quarterly to fight again for the top places.
