Fabio Quartararo stays loyal to Yamaha despite MotoGP struggles

Yamaha aims to bounce back in MotoGP as Fabio Quartararo remains committed to the project.

Fabio Quartararo of France and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team looks on during free practice for the MotoGP PT Grand Prix of Thailand at Chang International Circuit on February 28, 2025, in Buriram, Thailand. Photo by Steve Wobser/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Yamaha’s MotoGP project has faced significant challenges in recent years, with the team falling from title contention to struggling at the back of the grid. However, 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo has remained committed to the Japanese manufacturer, choosing loyalty over the opportunity to switch to Ducati’s Gresini Racing.

Despite Yamaha’s difficulties, Quartararo continues to place his trust in the team that helped him win his first premier-class title. The 2025 pre-season offered glimpses of hope, as the Frenchman finished inside the top three on all three days of the Sepang test. However, Yamaha was unable to maintain that performance in the season-opening Thailand Grand Prix, where they struggled for pace.

As MotoGP heads to Argentina for the second race of the season, Yamaha faces growing pressure to prove that their early promise in testing was not a false dawn.

Yamaha’s decline and Quartararo’s loyalty

Over the past three years, Yamaha’s performance has deteriorated significantly. Once a title-contending team, they have found themselves with one of the slowest bikes on the grid at times. Their last MotoGP victory came nearly three years ago at the 2022 German Grand Prix, a stark contrast to their past dominance.

Quartararo had the option to leave for a Ducati ride with Gresini Racing, but he opted to stay with Yamaha. His loyalty stems from his belief in the team’s long-term vision, despite their recent struggles. The Frenchman’s commitment has been a rare bright spot for Yamaha as they work to regain competitiveness.

Pre-season promise fades in Thailand

During the Sepang test, Yamaha showed encouraging signs of improvement, with Quartararo consistently among the top riders. However, their momentum did not carry over to the opening race in Buriram, where both factory bikes struggled.

Alex Rins, Quartararo’s teammate, was in “bad shape” during the race and has yet to find the pace needed to challenge at the front. His struggles have further complicated Yamaha’s efforts to climb back up the order.

One of the biggest issues in Thailand was tyre conservation. The extreme heat, which affected much of the field, caused excessive wear and prevented Yamaha from delivering a competitive race performance.

The impact of Covid-19 on Yamaha’s decline

While Yamaha’s struggles have been evident on track, the underlying reasons have not always been clear. Managing director Paolo Pavesio believes the team’s decline can be traced back to communication breakdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Yes, I believe that Covid did not help us, and that is not an excuse,” Pavesio told Moto.it. “It certainly created a short circuit of communication on those who had their headquarters so far away. Japan was completely closed to travel, and there was truly a disconnect.

“And having such a high-performing rider probably patched up a gap that was starting to form. But until 2022, we were still fighting at the front, and it didn’t help. When we saw how suddenly the gap grew, it became clear that in a sport driven by technology, you do not recover from one day to the next.”

Yamaha’s struggles have coincided with rapid progress from European manufacturers, particularly Ducati and Aprilia. While their rivals continued to develop at an aggressive pace, Yamaha fell behind, and the effects of that stagnation are still being felt today.

Looking ahead to Argentina and beyond

The last time MotoGP raced in Argentina, Yamaha had both of their factory bikes inside the top eight, with Franco Morbidelli finishing fourth in 2024. Due to financial difficulties in the country, the race was absent from the calendar last year, but it makes its return from March 14-16.

Argentina provides an opportunity for Yamaha to reset after their disappointing start in Thailand. Quartararo’s strong pre-season pace suggests that, in the right conditions, they could be the second-fastest bike at certain tracks this season. However, consistency remains a major concern.

MotoGP rivals were impressed with Quartararo’s race pace during testing, where he showed strong consistency on longer runs. That has fueled optimism within Yamaha that, if the conditions align, they can fight closer to the front at select circuits.

Yet, the road back to MotoGP’s top tier is long. Yamaha remains aware that significant development is still required if they hope to return to their former glory. While Quartararo’s loyalty provides stability, Yamaha must now deliver the improvements necessary to justify his commitment.

The Argentina Grand Prix will be a crucial test of whether Yamaha’s pre-season progress was genuine or if their struggles will persist as the 2025 MotoGP season unfolds.