The first days of official MotoGP testing in Malaysia looked promising, but reality quickly dampened Yamaha’s ambitions. Between crashes and technical failures, the atmosphere within the Iwata team has become heavy. The specter of a difficult season could be looming on the horizon.
A Chaotic Start for Quartararo
On Tuesday, as the sun blazed down on the Sepang circuit, Fabio Quartararo experienced a spectacular crash in turn 5. The result? A finger fracture 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 dead in turn 2, victim of an unexpected engine failure.
Concerning Technical Issues
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 cylinders. 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 mobilized to diagnose the nature of this failure. However, the search for solutions has not proven fruitful. 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 take laps in the stifling heat of Sepang, Quartararo’s teammates, like Álex Rins, as well as Pramac riders such as Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu, remained at a standstill. They were sometimes seen at the edge of the track, watching with some concern as their rivals busied themselves on 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 emphasizes that the safety of the riders is paramount. “If we can understand the origin of the problem, we will go back out, whether it’s 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 later. That said, doubt remains omnipresent.
The Yamahas remain stuck in the pit, symbolizing the uncertainties hanging over the team.
Tests Marred but Not Lost
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 its program. “To give a percentage, I would say we completed 80% of the program 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 program. For the others, the equipment was the same, but confidence is shaken by these incidents.
A Necessary and Imminent Return for Quartararo
Fabio Quartararo, for his part, left Malaysia in a hurry to return to Europe. He must undergo medical examinations in Barcelona to establish a roadmap aimed at optimizing 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 conditions.
