Yamaha experienced a disappointing race at the Red Bull Ring, with its riders finishing in the bottom four positions—15th through 18th—behind Ducati’s Marc Marquez, who claimed victory. The Australian rider Jack Miller was the slowest, ending the race 37 seconds behind the leader after 28 grueling laps, highlighting significant issues affecting Yamaha’s performance.
Fabio Quartararo emerged as the top Yamaha rider despite the overall disappointing result. This poor showing has once again brought Yamaha’s struggles to the forefront, particularly as Miller faces uncertainty regarding his future with the Pramac satellite team.
Technical Challenges Impacting Yamaha’s Performance
The Yamaha factory outfit and its Pramac satellite team struggled due to a combination of technical and environmental factors. The demanding track layout featuring hard braking points and intense acceleration zones, alongside an aging surface, complicated the teams’ efforts. Additionally, the tyre compound with a stiffer carcass and less sensitivity to temperature did not suit the Yamaha YZR-M1 model, causing significant handling difficulties.
The team’s inability to adapt the bike to these conditions was painfully evident in the performance of Miller, who expressed both frustration and bewilderment over the race weekend.
Jack Miller’s Honest Account of the Struggles
Jack Miller openly described the race weekend as challenging for everyone on the Yamaha squad. Initially, he felt the grip was acceptable only in the early laps, which was unusual and not the grip level expected at the start of a race. Miller pointedly mentioned the incompatibility between the bike and the rear tyre construction as a crucial issue:
“There‘s not much to say after a very, very difficult weekend for all of us. It‘s disappointing, to say the least,”
—Jack Miller, Yamaha rider
“And here, we never had that level at all. It‘s quite clear on paper that this weekend our bike simply doesn‘t work with this rear tire and its construction. There‘s just no way to make it work.”
—Jack Miller, Yamaha rider
Miller tried various riding techniques to manage the bike but found that once the bike reached speeds around 120 km/h, it lost stability, particularly on the rear wheel, which spun uncontrollably along the straights. This seriously compromised his ability to maintain speed and defend his position.
“I tried everything I know – from short-shifting, to being super patient on the throttle – just trying to find a way to defend myself,”
—Jack Miller, Yamaha rider
“The front end of the YZR-M1 is phenomenal, but the rear is the limitation. We need to work hard to understand how to improve it.”
—Jack Miller, Yamaha rider
Similar Difficulties Expressed by Teammates
Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira shared a similarly negative perspective, labeling the race as one of the worst experiences he has had. Oliveira emphasized the widespread nature of the problems, noting that while Yamaha’s riders have distinct strengths in different sections of the circuit, the team collectively faced the same fundamental struggles.
“It‘s frustrating when you can‘t do anything with your riding to be faster or to fight,”
—Miguel Oliveira, Yamaha rider
He pointed out the bike’s lack of grip during corner exits and insufficient rear support as major handicaps. Oliveira also observed that braking remains a critical issue:
“Fabio makes a huge difference on the brakes, but that‘s down to him – he‘s the one making the difference. We‘re already at the limit with the potential of this bike.”
—Miguel Oliveira, Yamaha rider
Fabio Quartararo’s Position and Looking Ahead to Hungary
Fabio Quartararo, although the best Yamaha finisher at Red Bull Ring, indicated concerns that the team might face a similar challenge at the upcoming MotoGP event at Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary. This forecast raises questions about Yamaha’s readiness to address these technical setbacks promptly.
Team Management Acknowledges Problems but Remains Determined
Despite the bleak race outcome, Pramac team manager Gino Borsoi expressed a cautious optimism. He acknowledged the persistent problems that had affected the team since the earliest practice sessions and praised the technicians‘ efforts to reduce the damage throughout the weekend.
“Unfortunately, the difficulties that had emerged since the first practice session reappeared again today in the race, despite the technicians trying in every possible way to minimise the damage,”
—Gino Borsoi, Pramac team manager
“We know the direction we need to take, and we are working hard to solve these problems, but it will still take time. What we must not do is give up.”
—Gino Borsoi, Pramac team manager
Implications for Yamaha’s MotoGP Campaign
This race has underlined the urgency for Yamaha to address the YZR-M1’s fundamental handling issues, especially concerning rear stability and tyre compatibility. The stark contrast with Ducati’s performance at the Red Bull Ring, exemplified by Marc Marquez’s win, amplifies the challenges Yamaha faces as it attempts to compete at the highest level.
Miller’s glaring difficulties combined with Oliveira’s and Quartararo’s critiques suggest that improvements must be made swiftly for Yamaha to avoid similar setbacks at upcoming rounds like the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 22-24. The team’s ability to adapt and evolve in response to these issues will be crucial for restoring competitiveness in the remainder of the MotoGP season.
