Quartararo and Yamaha remain optimistic after “a difficult day”

Yamaha started the year in the best possible way at Sepang, but had to confirm its progress this week at Buriram, on a very different circuit. Between the lack of grip, the new rear tires and the rising temperatures, the Iwata factory has not managed to find its marks.

fabio quartararo and Alex Rins thus concluded this entry into the matter one second behind the Ducati with whom they were fighting a few days ago. The Frenchman finished twelfth, just behind his garage neighbour. However, these are only details to be sorted out for the Frenchman who remains fully motivated for the rest of the hostilities in Buriram.

"I rode a lot today, trying to be fast," explains the 2021 world champion. “Let’s see if I can ride as I want if the track improves tomorrow. We tried a few things today that could be positive, but I wasn't riding well."

Fabio Quartararo remains hopeful that Yamaha can find the keys to perform at the forefront on the second day of testing in Thailand. A day that will also be the last of this 2025 pre-season.

“Hopefully we can find something tomorrow and make the tires fit us, He continues. I think we made some progress, but today we struggled with other things, like grip. But we are in a good position. The performance of the bike is quite good."

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Fabio Quartararo © Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP

"Everyone at Yamaha expected it"

The brand's technical director, Max Bartolini, acknowledges the difficulties experienced by Yamaha on a circuit less favourable to the characteristics of the M1. The Italian actually expected this drop in the hierarchy, after the waking dream experienced at Sepang.

“The first day of testing was difficult for us, as you can see with the results and the times, he confided after the first day in Buriram. We tested a lot of new parts. We expect it to be a difficult circuit for us, because our bike, as you know, depends a lot on grip. A problem we are trying to solve."

"Everyone expected things to be difficult here, engineers and drivers alike, He continues. We had the advantage of having more days, and having more time [at Sepang]. It's an engine circuit, and a circuit that depends on grip, so we have to find a little bit more balance with our bike than on other circuits. In any case, we have to reduce the gap, which was smaller at Sepang, because of the track conditions, and our advantage of three days of testing.

The latter also remains hopeful that the second day will go better, and is already working on some avenues for improvement. It remains to be seen whether the lessons learned from this first day will allow Yamaha to get a little closer to the front positions.