Fabio Quartararo via Yamaha V4: “I spent many years struggling, now I want a winning bike”

Fabio Quartararo has straightforwardly expressed his demands from Yamaha for the future. The French rider unambiguously stated that he would only accept winning machines after going through several hard years with bikes that could not match the speed of the competition. 

His agreement lasts until the end of 2026 and what comes next will entirely be determined by the caliber of the new V4-powered motorcycle.​

The winner of the 2021 championship title was never reluctant to voice his opinion about the performance of the bike. Still, this time there is a real pressing need for his input. 

The company has been working very hard on the new V4 engine which they plan to implement for the first time in MotoGP as they would be moving away from the inline-four setup they have used throughout their entire motorcycle racing history.

What Quartararo Actually Wants

The expectations are pretty straightforward. Quartararo needs:

• A fast bike that feels like it can score podiums regularly
• Machinery ready to fight for top three and top five positions every session
• Equipment that performs well in sprints and full-length races
• A machine that gives him confidence from the very first practice session​

He made these demands clear after another tough weekend in Australia where he qualified on pole but could only manage 11th place in the actual race. His teammate Alex Rins actually finished ahead of him in seventh, showing just how frustrating things have become.​

The V4 Project Falls Short So Far

Here’s the part that is tricky. Quartararo has already had a shot at the new V4 bike and was not very impressed with it. He rode the bike at Barcelona and Misano and said it was lousy in most areas when compared to the current inline-four version. The issues that plagued the last bike seem to be irritating the new one too.​

He has been riding the V4 machine in wildcard race appearances along with test rider Augusto Fernandez at Misano and Malaysia. While the other Yamaha riders, such as Alex Rins and Jack Miller, seem to be more optimistic about the project, Quartararo is still doubtful. He even went as far as saying that he would rather not answer the question of whether the V4 development gives him confidence just to be on the safe side.​

Timeline is The Critical Factor Now More Than Ever

Two vital testing sessions will determine everything. The post-season Valencia test is going to be Quartararo’s second chance to try the V4, but he is aware of the fact that the bike will not be in its full developed state by then. The moment of utmost significance is the February test in Sepang, Malaysia. That session will almost accurately show him what he will be racing in the 2026 season. 

If the bike is still not up to his standards at that time, Quartararo will be a key player in the 2027 rider market as majority contracts will have come to an end. He had already made a choice in favor of Yamaha once before when he had the opportunity to switch to other manufacturers like Aprilia. It will be very hard to make him stay again if the V4 does not live up to expectations.

Team Atmosphere Stays Professional

Despite all the public demands and honest feedback, Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli says nothing has changed inside the garage. The working relationship stays professional, and everyone understands what needs to happen. Quartararo has always been direct about his feelings regarding the machinery, especially when contract discussions might be approaching.​

The current situation takes a mental toll on any rider. Quartararo mentioned that the demanding 22-race calendar feels much harder when results just do not come. After disappointing weekends, he sometimes needs to completely disconnect from racing just to recharge.​

Why This Matters for MotoGP Fans

Yamaha’s transition to a V4 engine stands for one of the most significant alterations in the technical aspect of the modern MotoGP. All other manufacturers have either already done or are planning to do a V4 engine and thus, Yamaha is the only one still working with the inline-four configuration. Making this switch just over a year before rules will get all bikes to 850cc in 2027 is a sign of serious dedication.​

For fans watching the championship on sites like Khelo24race, Quartararo’s future is still very much a topic of discussion. His exceptional skill cannot be ignored—he was the world champion in 2021 and he often gets the best out of tough machines. His presence on a good bike again would change the whole grid.​

The development work is still going on, with Fernandez giving out race data during wildcard riding. In some parts of the session, the engine performance is restricted because Yamaha wants to keep it in a safe mode which makes it difficult to understand the real potential of the engine. The turning of the bike and the front-end feel are troublesome areas which engine swapping will not fix.​

Quartararo was patient for years with Yamaha in their hard times. Now, he expects results instead of promises. If Yamaha can not provide him with his requirements by the start of 2026, one of the greatest talents in MotoGP will either remain or go hunting for success in other places. Race fans on Khelo24race and elsewhere will follow this story closely for the next few months to see how it unfolds.