{"id":50898,"date":"2025-08-07T17:27:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T17:27:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/50898\/"},"modified":"2025-08-07T17:27:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T17:27:07","slug":"quartararo-pushes-for-yamaha-v4-as-he-blames-gap-to-motogp-rivals-on-engine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/50898\/","title":{"rendered":"Quartararo pushes for Yamaha V4 as he blames gap to MotoGP rivals on engine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fabio Quartararo<\/a> is the only rider who has been able to consistently challenge Marc Marquez<\/a> in the battle for pole positions this season.<\/p>\n

The Frenchman set the fastest qualifying lap at Jerez, Le Mans, Silverstone and Assen, while championship leader Marquez has started from pole on seven occasions. The only other rider to sit on pole has been Francesco Bagnaia<\/a>, last time out in the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n

That consistency and one-lap speed from the Yamaha rider haven\u2019t translated into race results, however. His only podium this season came when he took second in the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.<\/p>\n

After another disappointment in the Czech Republic \u2013 where he qualified on the front row in third but could only finish sixth, 11 seconds behind the winner \u2013 where Quartararo reflected on how helpless he feels against an increasing number of rivals.<\/p>\n

At Brno he was beaten by two Ducatis, two Aprilias and one KTM \u2013 and it could have been two KTMs if Enea Bastianini<\/a> hadn\u2019t crashed while running in a podium position. Quartararo blames that disadvantage on the engine; while Yamaha\u2019s current M1 runs a four-cylinder inline engine, its three European rivals use V4 engines.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure, because I\u2019m not an engineer and I\u2019ve never tested a V4, but Ducati has one chassis, KTM another and Aprilia [a third] \u2013 all different,\u201d he reflected. \u201cAnd what I see is that we have the same weaknesses compared to those bikes. So I understand that [the problem] is related to the engine.<\/p>\n

\u201c[The three manufacturers] have completely different chassis from each other, but the problems for us are the same. There\u2019s only one thing they all have in common: the engine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Fabio <\/p>\n

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing<\/p>\n

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography \/ LAT Images \/ via Getty Images<\/p>\n

In September 2024, Autosport revealed that Yamaha had started working on a new V4 engine<\/a> to replace the current one. Development is progressing, with on-track tests recently conducted by test riders Augusto Fernandez<\/a> and Andrea Dovizioso<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While there was initially talk of introducing the new engine in the second half of 2025, its debut has now been pushed back to 2026 \u2013 but only if it proves it can perform better than the current version<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The 2021 world champion is keeping up his policy of putting pressure on the manufacturer<\/a>, but he knows results don\u2019t come overnight. That\u2019s why he\u2019s also asking it to keep improving the current M1, as he sees a clear deficiency.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrip. That\u2019s what we\u2019re missing,\u201d he said. \u201cIn fact, the exit of the corners isn\u2019t so bad \u2013 the initial part isn\u2019t bad \u2013 but what\u2019s lacking is grip under braking and corner entry. That\u2019s something that really penalises us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poles are not enough<\/p>\n

The French star renewed with Yamaha in April 2024 for two more seasons, but he\u2019s not willing to keep trusting the Iwata factory unless he sees clear signs of progress as he does not want to waste the best years of his career. Despite the four poles this season, Quartararo hasn\u2019t won a race since Germany 2022 \u2013 more than three years ago.<\/p>\n

At Silverstone in May, he experienced a cruel moment when he was leading the race by a comfortable margin and his Yamaha suffered a mechanical failure that left him stranded.<\/p>\n

\"Fabio <\/p>\n

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing<\/p>\n

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography \/ LAT Images \/ via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Poles are simply not enough for the Frenchman. He doesn\u2019t understand how he can be so strong over a single lap, yet unable to attempt a single overtake in race conditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea why that happens. When I\u2019m riding alone, I find my rhythm, I can push my riding, go closer to the limit, but when I\u2019m in a group, I lose a lot \u2013 the rear end, the power, the aerodynamics, overall performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

But he concluded with a message of hope: \u201cWe’re working hard to correct these issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Time will tell if that is enough for Yamaha to be able to retain him.<\/p>\n

Read Also:<\/p>\n

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