The start of the 2024 MotoGP season has been challenging for Yamaha, with only 19 points scored in the first three rounds and a best finish of eighth for Fabio Quartararo at the Portuguese Grand Prix. Despite this rocky start, Yamaha has secured Quartararo for a new two-year contract and has significant updates planned for the upcoming races.
Quartararo acknowledges the busy schedule ahead, with tests scheduled after the Spanish and French GPs. He expresses optimism about the planned updates, emphasizing a focus on improving the bike rather than solely on immediate results. While Quartararo is naturally driven by a desire to win, he recognizes the value in the developmental process Yamaha is undergoing.
In terms of the updates, Quartararo highlights the importance of quality over quantity. He mentions Yamaha’s optimism regarding new aero developments, noting that the team has been using essentially the same aerodynamics since 2019. The shift to a different style of aero for this season represents a learning curve for the team, but Quartararo remains hopeful about the progress made since January.
Despite a disappointing 12th-place finish at the Americas GP, Quartararo sees the weekend as a positive step forward. Yamaha has identified its main issues and now has a clearer direction for improvement. Quartararo emphasizes the team’s experimentation with various settings and the need for new components to further enhance performance.
Quartararo emphasizes the importance of focusing on bike improvement rather than being solely results-driven. While the start of the season may not have been ideal for Yamaha, Quartararo’s mindset remains optimistic as the team looks ahead to implementing updates and addressing its performance challenges.