Yamaha's MotoGP journey has been a tale of progress and persistence. Despite a dry spell since Fabio Quartararo's 2022 German Grand Prix win, the team has shown signs of improvement, 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 this has allowed Yamaha riders to be more aggressive and explosive, as seen in Quartararo's five pole positions in 2025.
"The problem was they couldn't heat the tyres quickly," Taramasso says. "Now, Fabio's aggressive riding style, with hard braking, helps transfer weight to the tyres, creating the necessary grip."
Yamaha's Technical Director, Max Bartolini, highlights Quartararo's experience with the YZR-M1. "He understands the bike's limits and has developed a riding style to work around its weakness: straight-line speed," Bartolini explains.
However, the team's solitary podium finish in 2025, achieved by Quartararo at Jerez, underscores their ongoing challenge on race day. "When tyre grip drops, we lose significantly more than our competitors," Bartolini adds.
Taramasso suggests that Yamaha's characteristics might make it more suited to used tyres, as the reduced reactivity could benefit their riding style. "With new tyres, the bike sticks strongly to the track, but when grip drops, the movement is aggressive. Used tyres provide a more progressive movement, which could be an advantage for Yamaha."
And this is the part most people miss: Yamaha's engineers are working tirelessly to find the sweet spot, where the bike's potential can be fully utilized.
So, the question remains: Can Yamaha bridge the gap and consistently challenge for race wins? What do you think? Join the discussion in the comments and share your thoughts on Yamaha's MotoGP journey!
