- Racing boss Paolo Pavesio accuses Quartararo of contradictory criticism and a lack of objectivity
- For the test at the Red Bull Ring, Yamaha is sending Toprak Razgatlioglu and, in all likelihood, Izan Guevara onto the track
- Meregalli justifies the exclusion by saying that every manufacturer locks out the riders who are leaving
Fabio Quartararo’s departure from Yamaha is not going quietly. After the Aragon weekend, the 2021 world champion announced that he would no longer help the manufacturer with development for 2027. The trigger was the ban on running the new Pirelli tyres at the test in Austria. Now two Yamaha executives have spoken up and rejected the criticism.
What is Yamaha accusing Fabio Quartararo of?
Yamaha accuses him of contradicting himself. Paolo Pavesio, Executive Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, said in a newspaper interview: “Fabio regularly complains that we are not developing the bike. And when we ask him to test new parts, he criticises us for it and says he is losing the thread.”
Pavesio then questions part of the rider’s judgement, saying he lacks a little objectivity. At the same time he concedes that Yamaha is not at the level it would like to be, but that the company is trying to move forward just like its rivals. With that he also defends the components Quartararo was supposed to evaluate in Aragon and which the Frenchman described as ineffective.
Why does Meregalli hold up Jack Miller of all people as the example?
Because Miller is in the same situation and still delivers. The Australian loses his MotoGP seat after this season, yet in Aragon he took the best Yamaha result. Team director Massimo Meregalli said: “Fabio should take a leaf out of Jack’s book. He always gives everything and makes sure the mood stays good even in difficult times.”
The comparison is aimed less at lap times than at attitude. Miller missed a championship point in the sprint by a tenth of a second and came close to finishing tenth in the Grand Prix, only losing a position to Brad Binder right at the end. Quartararo finished the same race last.
Who is testing for Yamaha in Spielberg?
For the Monday test after the Grand Prix of Austria, Yamaha is relying on Toprak Razgatlioglu and, with a high degree of probability, on Izan Guevara. Meregalli justifies this by pointing out that both will still belong to the manufacturer in 2027. Guevara moves up to MotoGP with Pramac next season.
The date is valuable for the riders because Pirelli becomes the sole tyre supplier from 2027 and, at the same time, engine capacity drops to 850 cubic centimetres. Quartararo wanted to spend a day there on the new tyres, and Yamaha turned him down.
Is Yamaha’s argument that every manufacturer acts this way correct?
Not entirely. Meregalli cites as evidence that Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura are not testing the Aprilia, Francesco Bagnaia not the Ducati and Pedro Acosta not the KTM. Jack Miller is not getting the 850 Yamaha either. At the comparable test in June, however, things looked different: Acosta, Joan Mir and Luca Marini, three riders who are switching brands next year, were all on 2027 machinery.
Whether KTM will let Acosta ride again in Spielberg is open. It does not change Yamaha’s decision.
How old is the V4 dispute really?
Considerably older than the Aragon weekend, and it hangs on the engine question. Quartararo describes the relationship as having soured beforehand, above all because of the discussions about the bike for 2026. For him the matter was clear: Yamaha should have stuck with the inline four. The fact that the company ultimately went for the V4 was hard to accept.
According to media reports, he had been calling for the inline four repeatedly since 2023. The trouble over the Pirelli tyres is not new either, because Yamaha reportedly already kept him off the new compounds at the Brno test in June.
For the 2026 season, the open exchange of blows means that Yamaha is contesting the final races with a factory rider whose feedback for the decisive 850 project is only available to a limited extent. It is the last season with the 1000 cc prototypes, so every test lap counts double.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What exactly is Yamaha accusing Quartararo of?
Racing boss Paolo Pavesio says he contradicts himself. He complains about a lack of development, yet criticises the new parts as soon as he is asked to test them. On top of that, Pavesio says he lacks a little objectivity.
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Why is Quartararo not allowed to ride the Pirelli test in Austria?
Yamaha only puts riders on the new tyres who will still belong to the brand in 2027. Those are Toprak Razgatlioglu and, in all likelihood, Izan Guevara. Quartararo moves to Honda next season.
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Why did Quartararo want to keep the inline four?
He considered the inline four the better basis and, according to media reports, had been asking for it repeatedly since 2023. Yamaha opted for the V4 instead, which Quartararo said he found hard to accept.
