Fabio Quartararo’s decision to join Honda is a huge blow for Yamaha, even if the Iwata-based brand has secured another world champion in Jorge Martin as his replacement. Yamaha spared no expense in trying to revive its struggling MotoGP programme, largely in a bid to keep its star rider onboard into the new 850cc era that begins in 2027. Quartararo leaving was always a possibility, but the fact that he has chosen another Japanese manufacturer will sting at the very top of Yamaha’s management.
Quartararo has been so central to Yamaha’s modern MotoGP programme that it is still strange to picture him in any other colours. His exit, while yet to be officially confirmed, is on a similar scale to Marc Marquez’s decision to quit Honda. Quartararo rose to prominence just as Valentino Rossi was fading from the front and Jorge Lorenzo had already departed after his relationship with Yamaha broke down. When Yamaha needed someone to carry the torch into a new era, Quartararo stepped forward. How he struck gold immediately on his move to the factory team in 2021 and remained one of the fastest riders on the grid during Yamaha’s downturn speaks volumes about his calibre.
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– The Autosport.com Team