Yamaha’s MotoGP team leader Massimo Meregalli has stated that the recent technical difficulties encountered during the Sepang test have not impacted any decisions regarding Fabio Quartararo’s future with the team. The Japanese manufacturer is intensifying its efforts during the pre-season to develop its new V4 engine while simultaneously negotiating with Quartararo to secure his commitment for the 2027 season.
Prior to testing, speculation circulated that the 2021 world champion had already agreed to join Honda next year, a claim Quartararo denied, although he confirmed that discussions with Honda are ongoing. Yamaha’s position appeared uncertain after they missed on-track running during Wednesday’s session at Sepang because of an engine malfunction, raising questions about how this might affect contract talks.
When asked if these issues had altered Yamaha’s discussions with the French rider, Meregalli responded,
“I don’t think that yesterday has impacted any decision. We were just waiting, because we always said the discussions could start after this test.”
He added,
“We’ve had to postpone those discussions to the next one.”
Unprecedented engine trouble marked Yamaha’s Sepang test day
Despite the setback, Yamaha managed to return to action later in the test, with Alex Rins finishing as the top representative from the team in 12th place. Meregalli withheld details about the engine fault and its exact remedy, though unofficial information suggests that Yamaha limited engine revolutions to protect the unit.
Reflecting on the event, Meregalli said,
“For us, this morning when we received the information from Japan, we were really relieved because I think they had a really long night between Japan and Italy.”
He explained that the engineers successfully identified the cause of the failure, allowing the team to resume testing.
He described the problem as something new for Yamaha:
“More than big, it was really unexpected and unknown. So, it was a problem we never had and for them it was really important to understand. Luckily they were able and we were able to finish the test.”
Meregalli concluded by noting,
“The most important thing is the problem looks solved. And what we were not able to do here, we will do in Buriram in a few weeks.”
Upcoming plans to continue testing in Buriram
Following the technical difficulties at Sepang, Yamaha now plans to complete unfinished work at the next test scheduled in Buriram, Thailand. This continued development phase is critical for the Japanese brand as it aims to enhance its V4 engine’s performance ahead of the MotoGP season.
The outcome of these efforts, as well as ongoing conversations with Fabio Quartararo, will be closely watched within the MotoGP community. Securing Quartararo’s continued partnership remains a priority for Yamaha amid competition from brands like Honda, highlighting the strategic importance of the talks in the upcoming weeks.
