Fabio Quartararo has stated he will "push until the end" at Yamaha, believing it will help him prepare for his "next chapter" at Honda. The 2021 world champion is leaving Yamaha to join HRC for the new 850cc/Pirelli era in MotoGP, a move that is widely expected though not yet officially confirmed.
The French rider, currently 14th in the world championship, wants to continue improving by extracting the maximum from his current package, aware that switching manufacturers does not guarantee immediate success. "I prefer to finish P7 than P15, so it will be my way of being motivated until the end," Quartararo said. "I know that [such results] will not really change anything for me, but I want to be ready for next year, because it's not because I change [to Honda] that everything is going to be perfect."
The major regulation changes to 850cc bikes and Pirelli tyres are seen as an opportunity for Honda and Yamaha to finally close the gap on European manufacturers. However, unofficial lap times from early 850cc tests suggest Aprilia and Ducati remain at the front of the field.
Quartararo emphasized the importance of preparation: "In my new chapter for sure I will have some difficult moments, but this is why I want to push until the end [at Yamaha] because I think I still have many things to learn." He added that he does not expect better results in the second half of the season but will aim to maximize every opportunity, as he did at the Sachsenring where he finished seventh.
The first race after the summer break is the British MotoGP at Silverstone, where Quartararo suffered a ride-height device failure while leading last season. "We made the pole position, we were first [in the race]. Then, we know what happened," he recalled. "But we don't have the potential this year to fight for this position. So, of course, it's different, but I will do my best to be fast."
In the standings, Quartararo sits 14th, four places behind leading Honda rider Luca Marini. Honda has scored 109 constructors' points so far this season versus just 69 for Yamaha. After breaking out of the lowest concession ranking last season, Honda will return to D status alongside Yamaha after taking a step back in 2026.
Sources
- Crash.net: Fabio Quartararo using final Yamaha races to prepare for Honda MotoGP move (https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1101091/1/fabio-quartararo-using-final-yamaha-races-prepare-honda-motogp-move)
