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Fabio Quartararo mounts pressure on Yamaha: 'I will move' if V4 isn't competitive

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, October 23rd 2025 at 6:04 GMT by Crash
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Yamaha’s V4 Engine Sparks Pressure on Fabio Quartararo – “I’ll Move if It Isn’t Competitive”

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha’s star rider and 2021 MotoGP world champion, has openly declared that the future of his career hinges on the competitiveness of Yamaha’s newly‑developed V4 engine. In a recent press conference following the latest round of the championship, Quartararo warned that if the V4 bike fails to keep pace with the leading rivals, he will consider a move to another factory team. The statement has sent ripples through the MotoGP paddock, raising questions about Yamaha’s strategy, Quartararo’s loyalty, and the broader engine battle that has defined the sport’s most recent seasons.

The Engine Debate Gets Personal

Yamaha’s return to a V4 configuration in 2022 was heralded as a bold gamble: the 80‑horsepower 998‑cc V4 would replace the previously used V4‑based V4‑less 2‑stroke concept, and the company promised to deliver a competitive machine. The first year, however, revealed a steep learning curve. Quartararo, who had joined Yamaha in 2018 after winning two Moto2 titles, finished the season on a high note but struggled to match the performance of Ducati’s V4‑based bike and the new KTM V4 chassis. While he earned a podium in the opening race, the remainder of the year was defined by inconsistent results and a lack of the pace needed to challenge for the title.

Fast‑forward to 2023, Yamaha’s V4 bike has improved markedly but remains on the cusp of genuine competitiveness. The team’s engineering director, Shigeru Matsumoto, has repeatedly emphasized that the V4’s development is a multi‑year process and that Yamaha is “still a few laps per lap behind the front.” The bike’s power delivery, chassis balance, and electronics stack have all seen incremental upgrades, but the gap to the top contenders has not yet closed.

Quartararo’s remarks come after a string of strong finishes that underscored his own capabilities and the bike’s potential. Yet he admits that the V4 engine’s current performance is “not where it needs to be.” “I have the confidence that we can make the V4 competitive,” he said. “But if that doesn’t happen, I will move.”

What “Moving” Means

While Quartararo did not specify a target team, the most likely destination, as many commentators have suggested, is Ducati. Ducati’s 2023 bike, the Desmosedici V4, has already demonstrated its prowess, securing pole positions and race wins across the calendar. The Ducati factory team, led by director Daniele Bianchi, has openly expressed interest in riders who can bring a strong championship mindset, and Quartararo’s track record would make him a prime candidate.

Quartararo’s statement has also attracted interest from the KTM factory team, which has been in a tight battle with Ducati over the V4 engine. While KTM’s team manager, Thomas Schlegel, has emphasized that the team is committed to its own engine platform, the possibility of acquiring a rider of Quartararo’s caliber remains in the realm of speculation.

Yamaha’s Response

Yamaha’s management has remained tight‑lipped about Quartararo’s threat. Company spokesman Kenji Hiyoshi issued a brief statement: “We are fully committed to developing the V4 to world‑class standards. Our focus is on the 2024 season, and we are confident that the engine will reach its peak competitiveness.”

Yamaha’s technical team has highlighted the challenges of designing a V4 engine that can deliver consistent performance across different circuits and weather conditions. “The V4 offers a different power band and handling characteristics compared to the previous V4‑less design,” Matsumoto explained. “We’ve made progress on the throttle mapping and gearbox ratio tuning, but we still need to refine the chassis to fully exploit the engine’s potential.”

Implications for the Championship

If Quartararo were to leave Yamaha, the consequences for both the rider and the team would be significant. Yamaha would lose its leading rider and would have to identify a replacement who can adapt quickly to a V4 platform. Quartararo would benefit from a new environment that may offer an engine already proven at the front, but he would also risk losing the team’s existing support structure and the chemistry he has built over five seasons.

The broader MotoGP landscape also stands to shift. Should the V4 engine prove to be the decisive factor, teams that have built their chassis around this configuration will have a clear advantage. Ducati, with a well‑tested V4 engine and a strong engineering base, could dominate the 2024 season if Yamaha lags behind. Conversely, if Yamaha succeeds in bridging the gap, the championship could see a more balanced fight between the two factory teams.

Looking Ahead

The pressure is on Yamaha to accelerate the development of its V4 engine. Upcoming races will test the bike’s ability to maintain consistent lap times, especially on high‑downforce tracks like Le Mans and Sepang. Quartararo’s performance in the final three rounds will serve as a litmus test: if the V4 can deliver podiums, the threat of a move may fade; if not, the rider’s future remains uncertain.

The MotoGP community is watching closely. With the season now in its third quarter, every race will be a test of the V4’s evolution, the riders’ adaptability, and the strategic decisions that will shape the sport’s next era. The drama that unfolds will not only determine championship standings but also the very fabric of the teams that will compete at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing.