Fabio Quartararo Exposes Yamaha MotoGP V4’s Remaining Weak Spots

Fabio Quartararo has laid bare what Yamaha still needs to fix on their V4 MotoGP bike. After the Valencia test, it seems the new engine configuration isn’t a complete fix just yet. Quartararo, fresh off testing the 2026 prototype, pinpointed specific areas lagging behind the old inline-four.

The big issue? Front-end feel. Yamaha had a sweet front end. Now, that’s gone. Finding that confidence again appears fundamental to Quartararo. He believes sorting the base setup is key. Then, of course, there’s the power. A perennial problem for Yamaha. They’re running the V4 in a “safe mode”, suggesting substantial untapped potential. Grip levels also didn’t quite meet expectations.
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Yamaha hoped for gains. But Quartararo suggests development has stalled. He stated the bike felt similar to what he rode at Misano. That’s hardly progress. It’s important to see whether new aerodynamics scheduled to be tested provides a substantial upgrade.

It’s striking how neutral Quartararo sounds this time. He stated he is not going to say too much. It seems he’s learned to temper expectations and is focused on giving engineers concrete directions. He emphasized how important it is to provide specific data so the Yamaha engineers can improve.

Yamaha switched to the V4, abandoning the inline-four. Yamaha might haul the old bike to Sepang for comparison runs, but Quartararo doesn’t see the team dwelling on it. The future, for better or worse, is V4.
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The pressure’s on Yamaha to bridge the gap. They need to deliver tangible improvements. Otherwise, Quartararo’s neutral tone might turn negative quickly. Can Yamaha unlock the V4’s potential? The coming tests will be crucial.

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Keywords: Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha MotoGP V4, MotoGP 2026, Yamaha front-end feel, V4 engine problems, Yamaha power, Quartararo Yamaha testing, MotoGP development