The first days of the official MotoGP tests in Malaysia seemed promising, but reality quickly dampened Yamaha’s ambitions. Between crashes and technical failures, the atmosphere within the Iwata team has become heavy. The spectre of a difficult season may be looming on the horizon.
A Chaotic Start for Quartararo
On Tuesday, as the sun shone brightly at the Sepang circuit, Fabio Quartararo experienced a spectacular crash at turn 5. The result? A fracture in a finger that forced him to end his participation in the tests. This is not just a minor injury, but a serious alert for the French rider who had clear goals for this season.
Before putting away his helmet, Quartararo attempted to return to the track, despite the pain, swelling, and bleeding from his injured finger. However, fate had other plans: his Yamaha decided to stop abruptly at turn 2, victim of an unexpected engine failure.
Worrying Technical Problems
This failure specifically concerns the new V4 engine that Yamaha decided to adopt since last year, marking a turning point after years of loyalty to inline four-cylinder engines. But this change, which was supposed to bring a boost in competitiveness, seems to already show notable weaknesses according to Quartararo himself.
Yamaha technicians immediately mobilised to diagnose the nature of this failure. However, the search for solutions has not yielded fruitful results. The situation reached such a level of urgency that it led to the suspension of all track activity until a clear answer is found. As a result, no Yamaha was able to run the following morning, leaving the team in uncertainty.
A Deserted Pit and Spectator Riders
While the competition continued to lap in the sweltering heat of Sepang, Quartararo’s teammates, such as Álex Rins, as well as Pramac riders like Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu, remained on standby. They were sometimes seen at the edge of the track, watching with some concern as their rivals occupied the track.
“We are still trying to understand what caused the problem that affected Fabio yesterday afternoon,” said Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha team director, to Motorsport.com. A statement that resonates like a litany of concern within the team.
Safety First
Meregalli emphasises that the safety of the riders is paramount. “If we can understand the origin of the problem, we will go back out, whether today or tomorrow. We are waiting for the green light,” he adds. He also denies any link between Quartararo’s crash and the failure that occurred afterwards. That said, doubt remains ever-present.
The Yamahas remain stuck in the pit, symbolising the uncertainties weighing on the team.
Stained but Not Lost Tests
Meregalli also downplays the impact of this incident on the overall assessment of the tests. He highlights the importance of the previous sessions, during which the team had already been able to complete a significant part of their programme. “To give a percentage, I would say we completed 80% of the programme we had planned. We have the base of the bike,” he specifies.
He adds that Toprak is the only rider who has not yet been able to test his equipment as part of this programme. For the others, the team was the same, but confidence is affected by these incidents.
A Necessary and Imminent Return for Quartararo
Fabio Quartararo, for his part, left Malaysia hurriedly to return to Europe. He must undergo medical examinations in Barcelona to establish a roadmap aimed at optimising his recovery before the next test in Thailand, scheduled in just over two weeks. The pressure is high, and every minute counts for him to return in the best condition.
