Fabio Quartararo has rekindled his striking qualifying form in the 2025 MotoGP season, securing three pole positions in the last four rounds for Yamaha. This remarkable comeback follows years of struggles in qualifying, signaling a major shift in his performance and Yamaha’s competitiveness.
The 2021 world champion began his premier class career in 2019 with notable one-lap speed, earning six poles in his debut year and amassing 19 poles in total since then. However, after 2022, his qualifying edge diminished as Yamaha’s performance declined during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Technical Progress and Stability Boost Yamaha’s Performance
The turnaround is closely linked to Yamaha’s technical development, led by Max Bartolini, who joined from Ducati. Under his guidance, the Yamaha M1 has steadily regained its pace, reflected in Quartararo’s second-place finish at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix and his return to the front row in Qatar shortly before.
Fabio topped qualifying at the Spanish Grand Prix for the first time since 2022, then secured back-to-back poles at his home French Grand Prix and the British Grand Prix, the latter marking a hat-trick of poles this season. These achievements include narrow winning margins over Ducati’s Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez, demonstrating his renewed qualifying prowess.
Consistency in Bike Set-Up Vital for Success
A crucial factor in Quartararo’s revival has been the consistency in the Yamaha’s set-up since the Qatar Grand Prix. While some small adjustments have been made, the core of the M1’s configuration remained unchanged, allowing Quartararo to build confidence and push the limits over a single lap.
“Well, for me it’s clearly the consistency that since Qatar we didn’t change anything [on the set-up],” Quartararo said.
“We kept the same base, some small modifications, better, worse. Since Qatar we changed the bike but only a few details, and this was the difference. And it has always been one of my strongest points to be on the limit for one lap. The confidence is there.” —Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP Rider
Standing Out Among Yamaha Riders
Quartararo’s dominance within the Yamaha stable is evident. At Silverstone, he outpaced the next-best Yamaha rider, Pramac’s Jack Miller, by nearly nine-tenths of a second, with Miller finishing sixth. Similarly, Miller remained Quartararo’s closest Yamaha rival in France but was nearly a full second slower.
In Spain, Quartararo was the sole Yamaha rider progressing into Q2, while Miller lagged in 14th place, over a second behind the pole time. These gaps emphasize how Quartararo’s one-lap speed currently sets him apart even from his Yamaha teammates.
Riding Style Adaptations Enhance Qualifying Performance
The improvement in qualifying is also linked to a change in Quartararo’s riding technique, particularly his throttle control. Over the past season, he has adjusted to a smoother throttle application, compensating for reduced electronic intervention during acceleration. This approach allows better traction and speed but requires precision and patience to master.
“Especially to be much smoother with the throttle connection, which is something that I completely changed and was something that I needed a lot of time [to adjust],” Quartararo explained.
“I started working on that since I think Malaysia 2024. We started to change my riding style, it was not easy. But since the Sepang test it’s been better and better, and electronics-wise we are doing a better job than in the past.”
“So, basically we had to make it in a much smoother way and basically have as less electronics as possible, and have the cleanest opening.”
“The first steps were difficult because you felt like the bike had less traction and it was quite easy to highside. But, step by step we are getting it and even when we push super hard we are still keeping a smooth riding style. And this is something that is giving me more confidence.” —Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP Rider
Implications for the 2025 MotoGP Season and Beyond
Fabio Quartararo’s resurgence in MotoGP qualifying positions Yamaha as a stronger contender in the 2025 season. His ability to consistently secure pole positions and adapt his riding style reflects not only personal growth but also the success of Yamaha’s technical progress under Max Bartolini. This combination could shift the competitive balance in the premier class and raise expectations for race outcomes.
Maintaining this momentum will be crucial as Quartararo and Yamaha aim to translate qualifying speed into race victories, potentially altering the championship dynamics this year and in coming seasons.
