Quartararo Confirms 2027 MotoGP Decision is Final
Fabio Quartararo has affirmed that the decision regarding his future in MotoGP 2027 is definitive, aiding his mental state, even as he grapples with the ongoing uncompetitiveness of Yamaha.
The French racer revealed that the certainty surrounding his future in MotoGP 2027 has brought him mental peace amidst Yamaha’s continued struggles.
Although he hasn’t officially announced his next destination, Quartararo assures that he has made a crucial decision.
“I can’t say much about my future. I can say that my decision is clear; it also helps me mentally, but nothing more will come out of my mouth about my future,” Quartararo said, as quoted by Motorsport.
Quartararo has reportedly reached an agreement to join Honda starting in the 2027 season, coinciding with the beginning of the 850cc engine era. If realized, this move will end his association with Yamaha, which began with his debut in the premier class in 2019.
Quartararo previously won the MotoGP world championship with Yamaha in 2021. However, in recent seasons, he has grown increasingly frustrated with the declining competitiveness of the M1 motorcycle.
Yamaha underwent significant changes during the winter break, completely revamping the M1 prototype and introducing a new V4 engine. However, the initial testing results were disappointing. Quartararo revealed that the latest motorcycle is significantly slower than the previous version in race simulations.
“I think it’s a good bike,” Quartararo said when asked about Honda ahead of the season-opening round in Thailand.
At the test in Buriram last week, Quartararo finished in 17th place, just behind Jack Miller, who was Yamaha’s best rider. Both were more than a second behind Marco Bezzecchi, who set the fastest time with Aprilia.
This situation has led Quartararo to set no high expectations for the season-opening race.
“The real expectation is no expectation. I don’t think we are in a position to think about one result. I have no expectations; I’m just trying to stay calm and get the most out of it,” he said.
He admitted that the situation is difficult to accept given his abilities as a rider.
“Yes, because I know my potential. I know what I can do in one lap, in a race. But it’s difficult because we’re not in a position to be fast,” he said.
Quartararo also highlighted the lack of progress since the first test of the V4 engine in Barcelona in September.
He added that even though various settings have been tested, Yamaha has not yet found a solution that suits his riding style.
“Even in testing, it doesn’t mean I need to work as usual in testing. Already in the early laps, we knew exactly what we needed. You can’t imagine how many settings and things we’ve tried between September and now, and the feeling is still the same,” he said.
According to Quartararo, the responsibility now lies with the technical team to find new breakthroughs. He also affirmed that race simulations show a decline compared to last year.
“We saw race simulations seven or eight tenths slower than last year’s testing. That’s why I think we need to improve our development,” he concluded.