Yamaha's MotoGP journey has been a tale of progress and persistence. Despite a dry spell since Fabio Quartararo's 2022 German Grand Prix victory, the team has made significant strides, especially in qualifying. But here's where it gets controversial: Yamaha's success in qualifying doesn't always translate to race day.
One of the key issues Yamaha has addressed is generating tyre temperature. Michelin's Piero Taramasso explains that Yamaha's bikes now have the ability to heat the tyres quickly, allowing for more explosive performances in qualifying. This improvement is evident in Quartararo's five pole positions in 2025, second only to champion Marc Marquez.
"The problem in the past was their inability to generate immediate energy and heat the tyre," Taramasso said. "Now, Fabio's aggressive riding style, with hard braking, helps transfer the bike's weight onto the tyres, creating the necessary temperature for grip."
Yamaha's Technical Director, Max Bartolini, highlights how Quartararo's experience with the YZR-M1 has been instrumental in developing strategies to overcome the bike's weakness in straight-line speed. "He understands the bike's limits and has adapted his riding style to make the most of its strengths," Bartolini explained.
However, Yamaha's solitary podium finish in 2025, achieved by Quartararo at Jerez, underscores their ongoing struggle with race-day performance. "When the tyres lose grip, our bikes suffer more than others. We need to find a way to maintain our performance as the tyres wear," Bartolini added.
Taramasso believes that Yamaha's characteristics might actually work better with used tyres, as the reduced reactivity could benefit their riding style. "With new tyres, the high grip level can make the bike's movement quite aggressive. As the tyre wears, the movement becomes more progressive, which could be an advantage for Yamaha's corner speed," he suggested.
And this is the part most people miss: Yamaha's progress is evident, but they still have work to do to consistently challenge for race wins. It's a fine line they're walking, and the team is determined to find the right balance.
What do you think? Is Yamaha on the right track, or do they need to make more drastic changes? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
