Let's talk MotoGP: Yamaha must solve an impossible equation

Yamaha is in a rather strange situation, and now finds itself with a very difficult equation to solve. On the one hand, Fabio Quartararo gets the most out of his bike, especially in qualifyingThe Frenchman, who has already secured four pole positions this season, frequently manages to reach the level of the best, at least in this exercise. But he won't be able to bring the tuning fork company back to the top on his own; he needs a very good supporting cast, other drivers capable of shining, at least from time to time. And that's the whole problem.

 

A cast that lives up to the ambition

 

Yamaha is perhaps the most ambitious manufacturer on the grid. With considerable financial power, the Japanese brand works on many projects at the same time, and even allows itself to develop a 1000cc V4 engine, which goes against its philosophy in MotoGP, for just one year. In fact, we don't even know if we'll see him in the race. The resources put in place are enormous, and Pramac Racing, arguably the best private team in the history of the discipline, has joined the ranks. So you might think everything is going well, but the problem, It's that the drivers are not up to the challenge.

 

 

It's quite sad to say, but it's the truthI was particularly impressed by the recruitment of Augusto Fernandez as a test driver, as I've always liked him and he's a luxury replacement: it's rare to have such young world champions available for this position. I can't really say whether he's doing a good job or not, as his work is discreet. In the race, it's not so good – especially at Brno – but I remain optimistic.

 

Three pilots in danger

 

Now comes the time to talk about the incumbents, the real sore point.. If it were up to me and if there were no restrictions imposed on me, I would change three out of four drivers. You read that right. First, Miguel Oliveira, the most obvious choice. At Pramac, he's not doing well, and was injured again at the start of the season. I wrote an article about it recently, but I'll say it again here: I don't see a favorable outcome for the Portuguese.With the upcoming arrival of Toprak Razgatlioglu in 2026, it is very difficult to imagine him retaining a seat at Yamaha, on the one hand, but elsewhere as well.

Next, let's talk about Alex Rins, who, apparently, is also under threat. Well, he's pretty consistent, sure, but he's no slouch. Sure, Fabio is a star, one of the best drivers on the grid. But the gap between the two men is just too big. Only one top 10 on Sunday, only one finish in the points in the Sprint, 18th in the general classification, only 42 points on the clock (compared to 102 for a Quartararo who could have had more), behind Jack Miller... that's a lot.

I've been saying for two years now that Rins is no longer there, I don't recognize him. He's lost his fire, his face isn't as bright as before. Yet, he's only 29 years old, but I have the strong feeling that, like Miguel Oliveira, the end is near. And he hasn't been injured yet, but, if we rely on his record since arriving in MotoGP in the 2017 season, another absence is more than likely. Rins' place is in a satellite team, with the ambition of making two or three splashes during the year, a bit like when he was at Honda LCR. But not in a team that wants to come back and stay at the top.

So there remains Jack Miller, currently tipped to replace Alex Rins in the factory team. I fully understand the interest in having an Australian in the team, because it is an important nationality for DORNA as well as for Liberty Medium. I also recognize that, unlike Rins and Oliveira, "Jackass" has been able to find speed on the YZR-M1, notably in Thailand, Silverstone and Austin. And I also see the potential for media spin-offs that his personality could generate in the era of the new American owner. I know all that, yes. But would Miller, a factory driver, still be your dream in 2026? I mean, he's capable of shining from time to time, but his start to the season hasn't been anything special.

 

 

First, he still suffers from chronic inconsistency, which doesn't help his statistical record, and wastes great opportunities. Second, the reality is this: he's 14th in the standings, far behind Quartararo. Some will tell me that he's starting out on a Yamaha, and that's the truth. But remember his KTM years: he was never as good as in the first rounds, for some reason that escapes me.

So, his profile doesn't really convince me, and I have trouble seeing what more he could bring as a factory rider.

 

New faces, the solution?

 

Let's quickly return to Toprak's signature, which I didn't believe in at all.I've been telling you the same thing for two years now: I'm convinced he won't be able to adapt to MotoGP. The difference in level between Superbike and the top discipline is too great today. But at least Yamaha took a risk, and I applaud it. Again, this choice is interesting from a marketing point of view, but it doesn't win races. I could be wrong, but I'm afraid of another casting mistake.

To overcome these problems, I would rely on new faces. We're talking about Diogo Moreira, a Brazilian Moto2 rider, and that would be great too! Yamaha still has time, because the goal is to be ready for 2027, I imagine, when the cards will be reshuffled. So, why not take a risk with one, or even two promising youngsters? When I think that the excellent Aron Canet or the leader of the Moto2 championship Manuel Gonzalez still don't have a handlebar, it makes me angry to see Oliveira and Rins dropped without the aforementioned having the slightest chance of reaching these positions.

In any case, I can't imagine Yamaha's future in MotoGP without the ousting of certain elements. It's cruel, but it's the harsh law of top-level sport.

What do you think? What would you do with unlimited resources? Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Yamaha