Winless for the past three and a half seasons, Fabio Quartararo has made no secret of his high expectations for next year\u2019s new Yamaha V4 MotoGP machine.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need a fast bike. I need to feel that it\u2019s a winning bike and that I can fight for top 3 and top 5 in every single Sprint, and every single GP,\u201d the 2021 world champion said towards the tail end of the Inline M1\u2019s final season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really clear from my side. It\u2019s going to be difficult\u2026 It\u2019s what I need. I spent many years struggling but now I want a winning bike.\u201d<\/p>\n
After failing to feel much progress from the V4 prototype at Misano, Quartararo<\/a> was able to lap 0.554s from the top – albeit in 15th place – at the Valencia test.<\/p>\n That was despite engine performance being held back. But big changes are expected between Valencia and the opening 2026 tests at Sepang when, in the words of test rider Augusto Fernandez, Yamaha will create the \u2018real\u2019 V4<\/a>.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cFor Valencia, I know the bike will still not be completely ready,\u201d Quartararo acknowledged.<\/p>\n \u201cFebruary [at Sepang], the bike will almost be the one we\u2019ll race.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s going to be super important to have what I want in the Sepang test.\u201d<\/p>\n The Sepang Shakedown test, which Yamaha <\/a>race riders are eligible to enter due to the factory\u2019s D concession status, runs from January 29-31.<\/p>\n