At the Mugello MotoGP weekend, Miguel Oliveira and other riders faced ongoing difficulties related to the Yamaha M1’s tire behavior, which shifted unexpectedly with temperature changes. Fabio Quartararo confirmed that these issues are not only technical but also highly unpredictable, impacting performance significantly during the race.
Quartararo Explains Fluctuating Bike Performance
The French rider noted that while the team has been aware of these challenges for a long time, the bike’s handling varies greatly as the tires heat up. Quartararo described how the sessions initially feel manageable during short bursts on the track, but become problematic when the tires reach higher temperatures, causing the M1 to behave very differently.
He recalled that his best performance came during the first free practice session, when using used tires, before the tire temperature increased beyond expectations later in the weekend. This sudden change in handling continues to puzzle the Yamaha team.
Physical Toll on Riders Increases as Bike Demands Rise
Quartararo also revealed that by the race’s final stages, he chose to ease off the pace, despite keeping close to Miguel Oliveira. The physical strain, aggravated by his shoulder injury and the bike’s weight, compromised his braking ability, leading him to avoid unnecessary risks in the last laps.
He emphasized how the heavy M1 exerts a significant toll on the rider’s endurance, especially when braking deteriorates, making it unsafe to maintain top speeds late into the race.
Broader Context of Mugello and MotoGP Rider Developments
These tire and handling challenges reflect wider technical difficulties faced by Yamaha and their riders in Mugello. Meanwhile, other competitors like Pecco Bagnaia have highlighted the arrival of new talents such as Toprak, indicating a shifting landscape in MotoGP. Additionally, riders like Savadori have focused on testing developments aimed at addressing performance hurdles, reporting positive feedback from recent experiments in Mugello and Assen.
“The problems we have, we’ve known about for a long time. But when we do practice sessions, it actually feels kind of okay. We do five laps, stop, do five more. But the bike’s behaviour changes a lot when the tyre heats up.”
—Fabio Quartararo
“The best feeling I had was in FP1, with used tyres. But as soon as the tyre gets a bit hotter than expected, the bike behaves completely differently. It’s really, really strange.”
—Fabio Quartararo
“Of course I saw Miguel until the finish. But physically, I was done. In the last six laps I was doing 1m49s. I preferred to slow down, because I couldn’t really brake properly anymore.”
—Fabio Quartararo
“The bike is very heavy and wears you down. And when you can’t brake properly anymore, there’s no point in taking risks. That’s how I felt today.”
—Fabio Quartararo
