Fabio Quartararo says he’s riding ‘for himself’ as Yamaha winless streak approaches four years

Fabio Quartararo’s ongoing struggles with Yamaha in 2026 have made it clear he’s focused on his own path forward in MotoGP.

The Frenchman hasn’t looked the same since winning the championship in 2021 and failing to defend it the following year. His last race win came at the German GP in 2022, and there hasn’t been much progress since.

Despite managing five pole positions in 2025, Quartararo is growing increasingly frustrated. The new V4 engine still isn’t up to scratch, and development has fallen behind where it needs to be.

The best he’s managed so far this season is a 14th-place finish. Yamaha are still nowhere close to resolving the bike’s problems, including grip and front-end feel—issues Quartararo raised months ago.

Fabio Quartararo focused on his own future as Yamaha struggles continue

Having reportedly agreed to join Honda for the 2027 season, Fabio Quartararo is no longer tied to Yamaha. Speaking to MotoGP’s official YouTube channel, he made it clear that he’s now focused on his own path back to the front.

He said: “I’m getting older and I’m leaning into that side of my brain. I’m talking really about how I am living right now, that the results are not so great.

“You need to stay focused because it’s really easy to lose your way, the motivation, and, at the end, it’s something that you need to do for yourself.

“Doesn’t matter if you are winning or not. When you’re winning, everything is easy. But when you are struggling, it’s there where really you are having tough, tough times.

“I have nothing to prove. If I’m here, it’s just because I want to be back for myself. I mean, I know my speed. I know what I achieve. I know what I want to achieve in the short future. When you taste the feeling of winning, you don’t want to lose it.”

Quartararo’s recent interviews may be a concern for Honda

Quartararo committed to Honda before he’d even tested Yamaha’s 2026 machine, signalling just how little faith he had left in the project. His criticism of Yamaha has only intensified since then.

His motivation within the team appears low, and his public frustration over the bike’s unresolved problems hasn’t let up.

Such comments aren’t likely to sit well with Honda, and the 2021 champion will need to address that before making the switch in 2027.

Neil Hodgson has suggested Yamaha should consider pulling Quartararo from media duties, as continued negative remarks could worsen an already difficult situation.

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