Fabio Quartararo has delivered a candid assessment of Yamaha’s new V4 MotoGP bike after the recent Sepang pre-season test, saying he believes the machine remains significantly behind its rivals in performance.
Quartararo, who completed two days of running on the new V4 at Sepang before a broken finger forced him to cut his test short, finished the opening official test day ninth fastest. His best lap left him nearly nine tenths of a second behind Ducati’s pace-setting Marc Marquez.
The 2021 world champion described Yamaha’s track position as “super far” from where it needs to be to compete with the leading manufacturers. He acknowledged that his lap times so far do not reflect the level of performance seen from top bikes in the field, and he said the team knows it must work on multiple areas to close the gap.
Source: AutoSports
Quartararo insisted that adapting to the V4 layout was not the main issue, describing himself as comfortable with the new engine format. He pointed instead to technical shortcomings in areas including traction, electronics, grip and cornering that the team must improve as the season approaches.
Despite a limited number of laps due to his early departure from the test, Quartararo said he observed rivals making rapid progress in their early running. His comments underline the challenges Yamaha faces with its new machine while competitors such as Ducati, Aprilia and Honda continue to demonstrate strong pace.
Yamaha’s efforts with the V4 will continue at the final pre-season test in Buriram, Thailand, on February 21-22, where Quartararo is expected to return after recovery. The Japanese manufacturer holds concessions that allow ongoing development of its engine design throughout the year, giving the team flexibility to refine performance.
Quartararo’s frank evaluation at Sepang underscores the development work still required for Yamaha’s new bike to contend with the front-running machines in the 2026 MotoGP season.
