Fabio Quartararo: Top speed ‘the least of Yamaha’s problems’ at Spanish MotoGP

Fabio Quartararo thinks that speed is not Yamaha’s only problem at the Spanish MotoGP.

Quartararo was Yamaha’s fastest rider on Friday in Jerez, but only 17th in the standings and over a second off the pace of Alex Marquez at a circuit where Quartararo was on pole 12 months ago.

The Monster Energy Yamaha rider feels it’s clear Yamaha is struggling, despite cooler temperatures (around 20C ambient in Practice) on Friday.

“Being a second off our best time means we’re struggling,” Fabio Quartararo said after Practice, as reported by GPOne.

“But we have to get used to this situation. 

“Obviously, when we arrive at the track on Thursday, we want to be competitive and motivated to aim for a good result, but the truth is that we’re far away.”

He added: “The temperature is cooler now than last year, so we should be faster. Instead, we’re way off the pace.”

Yamaha, as usual, was down on top speed during practice, but Quartararo said the problems are much more wide ranging.

“We need speed, but here in Jerez, that’s the least of our problems,” he explained.

“Right now, more than speed, we need a bike that turns, has grip, stops well, and gives us confidence in the front. 

“These are the things I’ve been asking for since September. The fact is, we haven’t found anything.”

Quartararo’s comments at the end of Friday came after Massimo Meregalli assured earlier in the day that motivation remains high at Yamaha despite the expected departure of the Frenchman at the end of this season and the confirmed one of Alex Rins.

Rins was over 0.2 seconds slower than his teammate on Friday in Jerez and the slowest of the Yamahas overall with the exception of Augusto Fernandez who is wildcarding this weekend.