The German Grand Prix at Sachsenring this weekend highlights a continuing challenge for Yamaha, as it approaches three years without a MotoGP victory. This ongoing drought has persisted despite strong efforts from the team and riders such as Fabio Quartararo, whose win at Sachsenring in 2022 was the brand’s last top podium finish.
Quartararo’s win at Sachsenring marked the eleventh victory of his premier-class career and temporarily extended his championship lead over Francesco Bagnaia by 91 points before the introduction of Sprint races. However, his 2022 title defense faltered with only two additional podium finishes, enabling Bagnaia and Ducati to dominate the season and claim the championship. Following this, European manufacturers, especially Ducati, solidified their hold on the sport. Bagnaia won the world title again in 2023, and Jorge Martin secured a third consecutive Ducati championship last season.
Since the Sachsenring 2022 event, Ducati, Aprilia, KTM, Honda, and Suzuki have all secured race wins, while Yamaha has yet to end their winless streak. The closest Yamaha has come recently was at Silverstone earlier this year, where Quartararo led comfortably before a ride-height failure thwarted any chance of victory. Quartararo’s best results since remain a second-place finish at Jerez and a few third places throughout 2023. His qualifying performance has been strong, such as claiming pole position four times this season, yet race results have often fallen short, including a tenth-place finish following a promising start at Assen.
Challenges Faced by Yamaha and Their Riders at Sachsenring
Fabio Quartararo acknowledged the difficulties experienced in recent races, explaining,
“The Dutch GP didn’t go quite as we’d hoped,”
and added,
“Especially in the second half of the race, I felt I had more pace, but getting stuck behind other riders made it difficult.”
Despite these setbacks, the Yamaha camp continues to work on improvements with help from other riders including Alex Rins and Pramac’s Miguel Oliveira, who recently joined the Yamaha test team for a private session at Brno.
Quartararo commented on the testing efforts, stating,
“We’ll be going over the private test data to see what we can take from that,”
followed by optimism,
“Maybe that can help us a bit in the next two race weekends.”
He also reflected on Sachsenring’s difficulty for Yamaha, saying,
“I’ve won in Sachsenring before, but in general, the track has always been a bit tricky for us, particularly in Sectors 2 and 3,”
before affirming,
“But we’ll focus on the positives and give it our all as always.”
This weekend will also mark Alex Rins’ debut with Yamaha at Sachsenring, as he missed last year’s race due to injury. He described his experience at the Dutch GP as a struggle,
“The Dutch GP was a tough one. But it would have been a challenging race regardless, even without that early incident.”
Rins further explained his difficulties, noting,
“We’re aware of the issues holding us back, and at the moment, it’s all about putting in the work to find what we’re missing.”
Concerning the recent testing, he added,
“I gave it my maximum during the private Brno test, which overall was quite positive. Yamaha is making a huge effort behind the scenes to drive development forward, so now we just have to stay focused and keep pushing.”
Importance of Qualifying and Team Strategy at Sachsenring
Yamaha’s team director, Massimo Meregalli, highlighted the challenges of Sachsenring’s narrow track layout that makes overtaking particularly difficult. He explained,
“Sachsenring presents unique challenges – its layout makes overtaking particularly difficult, so progressing into Q2 and securing a strong qualifying position will be even more critical than usual.”
At this midpoint of the 2025 season, Quartararo stands eleventh in the world championship rankings, while Rins holds seventeenth place. Both riders and the Yamaha team face mounting pressure to overcome the ongoing MotoGP victory drought as they target stronger results in the remaining races.
As Yamaha continues to adapt and develop its machinery and race strategies, Sachsenring offers a crucial opportunity to reverse the current trend. With rigorous testing, collaborative efforts from riders, and a focus on qualifying performance, Yamaha hopes to regain its winning momentum and challenge the dominance of European manufacturers on the MotoGP grid.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is MotoGP not so popular?
A. The unfortunate truth is that entertainment makes more money than sports, and MotoGP is attempting to profit from this trend. However, the current MotoGP lacks personalities that can add the drama needed to make it exciting.
Q. Has anyone won F1 and MotoGP?
A. Known as the sole World Champion in both motorcycle racing and Formula 1, John Surtees excelled in both sports with equal talent and courage.
Q. Did F1 buy MotoGP?
A. Since F1 and MotoGP are now managed together, Liberty Media oversees both top global racing series. This change might affect rules, competition, and business plans. Although the EU agreed to the deal, some are concerned it could lead to a virtual monopoly.
Q. Who earns more, MotoGP or F1?
A. Formula 1 generates much more revenue than MotoGP. This difference isn’t related to the skills of the drivers or riders, nor the risks involved.
