After mixed pre-season testing in Indonesia, Fabio Quartararo has sounded the alarm about his future with Yamaha. The performance of his motorcycle does not convince the tricolor pilot enough. To the point of ending its engagement with the Japanese manufacturer?
According to the rumors circulating in the paddock MotoGPthe relation between Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha seems fragile as the start of the season approaches. After a successful 2021, the ambitions of the French are such that he hopes to continue to fight for the top spot in the championship. However, one point remains unresolved… At the end of the previous season, the performance of rival Ducatis alarmed Iwata, particularly on engine power. However, following the winter tests, the Quartararo found that the development of its M1 was not sufficient to achieve its objectives:
« To be honest, I don’t know where we can improve. When you start to feel the front moving everywhere, the rear turning to the limit, yourself elbow touching everywhere, it’s hard to find more. »
Yamaha’s work during the off-season is therefore deemed insufficient by the rider who is considered the brand’s headliner. Concern reigns in the builder’s garagewho is doing everything to see the champion’s contract be renewed for the coming seasons, and even in the long term:
“Fabio is our first priority. We are in contact almost daily with his management, we continue to follow our program and we try to find a way to reach an agreement as soon as possible. It’s normal that he has received offers, but we are confident and we are doing what we can to make sure we keep him for the next two years or more.” Massimo Meregalli, director of the Yamaha Factory Racing team, told the official MotoGP website.
While the packet of MotoGP seems to be tightening up, the Frenchman’s ideas are quite evasive at the dawn of a season which promises to be decisive for Fabio Quartararo’s future with Yamaha. The alarm bell is also sounded by the pilot, who does not hide his possibility of seeing elsewhere, if he feels that the situation escapes him to achieve his objectives. The 2021 world champion took advantage of the press conference held at the end of the day, after practice sessions in Indonesia, to publicly put pressure on the Iwata team. The latter must imperatively convince through its development, to keep its driver for the coming years.
Even if the Yamaha rider opens the door to his future, it is difficult to understand his intentions. Is it a simple bluff to push his team to further develop his M1 or a real desire to see himself wearing other colors? Response from March 4, first Grand Prix of the season at Losail in Qatar.
Photo : Icon Sport
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