The Turkish rider beat Jack Miller<\/a>, his Pramac garage neighbour, who finished second-to-last, eight seconds behind him and only ahead of Ducati test rider Michele Pirro<\/a>. Nevertheless, Razgatlioglu is the least of Yamaha\u2019s concerns. Largely because he shoulders most of the responsibility when explaining the origins of his lack of competitiveness, pointing to a more complicated adaptation to MotoGP prototypes than he had anticipated.<\/p>\n Quartararo and Alex Rins<\/a>, by contrast, have been far less accommodating and far more direct regarding the M1\u2019s weaknesses, despite finding themselves in very different situations concerning their futures.<\/p>\n Quartararo has an agreement with Honda to become the new flagship rider of the Japanese manufacturing giant. Rins, meanwhile, remains uncertain about his next move. Proving oneself when the bike beneath you is incapable of delivering results is no simple task. The Spaniard and the Frenchman differ greatly in both personality and personal circumstances, which leads to Quartararo to react far more viscerally \u2013 at times to the point of later regretting it.<\/p>\n Read Also:<\/p>\n \u201cI need to learn to relax, to take things more calmly, and not make certain mistakes I\u2019ve already made in terms of image. That\u2019s the most important thing,\u201d reflected the 2021 world champion this weekend in Thailand, referring to the middle finger he directed at his bike during testing a few days earlier \u2013 a clear sign of frustration.<\/p>\n Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing<\/p>\n Photo by: Steve Wobser \/ via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve already told him to try to hold back, because doing those kinds of things doesn\u2019t help him from an image perspective,\u201d a source within his inner circle said this writer.<\/p>\n On Sunday, perhaps to avoid another flare-up, Yamaha prevented Quartararo from facing the microphones, which was a decision that technically breached the contract signed with promoter MotoGP Sports Entertainment, which on this occasion accepted the move given the delicacy of the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cFabio finished the race extremely angry. It was better for the team that he didn\u2019t speak, because it could have blown up badly,\u201d a separate source from inside the Japanese manufacturer\u2019s garage told Autosport.<\/p>\n There are reportedly images suggesting that the Nice-born rider\u2019s bike stopped before reaching the garage, likely due to an engine issue. Whether that engine is indeed damaged will become clear in the coming days, when the organisation updates the data following verification by IRTA technicians. Despite being the only manufacturer in Concession Rank D \u2013 which allows unrestricted engine development \u2013 each Yamaha rider has just 10 engines to cover the 22-round calendar. Beyond that number, any additional engine would require starting from the pitlane. Some team members are already placing bets on when that might first occur.<\/p>\n With his Sunday intervention, Pavesio sought to project a message combining calm with realism. Motofumi Shitara, Yamaha Motor\u2019s global president, made an unexpected appearance in Buriram which did not lend itself to an alarmist discourse, even if the attendance of the group\u2019s highest-ranking executive inevitably raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n \u201cThe president came from Japan, and one might think he did so to find out what\u2019s going on. But no \u2013 he came to demonstrate his commitment and support, and to reassure us,\u201d said Pavesio, who a year ago took on his current role at Yamaha.<\/p>\n Paolo Pavesio, Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director<\/p>\n Photo by: Alexander Trienitz<\/p>\n Since taking over from Lin Jarvis as team director, events have moved at relentless speed within Yamaha. In 2025, the MotoGP division split in two to develop in parallel both the bike raced in grands prix \u2013 still powered by the inline four-cylinder engine \u2013 and a new machine equipped with a V4 powerplant, an entirely unknown world for the brand.<\/p>\n Quartararo and Rins did not deliver glowing feedback when they first tested that V4 at the end of last year. Worse still, that initial impression has not improved now that they are racing the new version, seen as \u201cthe only path that will take us back to where we belong,\u201d in Pavesio\u2019s words.<\/p>\n The executive is the public face of Yamaha\u2019s transitional period, but the distance between him and the riders appears greater than it was during the Jarvis era.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t speak much with Paolo. The people who matter to me are the ones inside the box. More than with him, I speak with the engineers,\u201d Quartararo told Autosport in an interview at Phillip Island a few months ago.<\/p>\n Read Also:<\/p>\n That lack of connection, combined with the bike\u2019s limited competitiveness and Honda\u2019s interest, has ultimately led to the Frenchman\u2019s departure. Autosport understands that Pavesio\u2019s relationship with Rins is not significantly different, despite the Catalan\u2019s situation being more complicated, given that he has nothing secured for 2027.<\/p>\n He knows one side of the garage will be occupied by Jorge Mart\u00edn, while meetings continue before a decision is made on who will take the other seat. On Friday at around 7pm, Yamaha technical director Max Bartolini met with Luca Marini<\/a> and the Italian rider\u2019s agent at the paddock caf\u00e9 terrace in Buriram, in full view of passers-by. Bartolini likely outlined the project he hopes will carry Yamaha to the summit of the \u201cmountain\u201d Pavesio often refers to \u2013 which right now looks like Mount Everest.<\/p>\n We want to hear from you!<\/p>\n Let us know what you would like to see from us in the future.<\/p>\n![\"Fabio](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772546777_781_fabio-quartararo-yamaha-factor.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Paolo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/paolo-pavesio-yamaha-motor-rac.jpg\")
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