Updated at 3pm:
Dorna’s Jack Appleyard has been unable to identify a definitive cause for Yamaha’s technical difficulties and suggests that Yamaha’s competitive era may be coming to an end. There are also significant uncertainties about whether testing will continue on the third day.
Yamaha’s technical director, Max Bartolini, later confirmed: “Yesterday, Fabio had to stop on the track. We investigated the issue but couldn’t pinpoint a clear solution. We have some theories, but prioritizing the safety of our riders and others, we decided to take the time to fully understand the problem before resuming. That’s why we chose not to run today. We will keep monitoring and hope to find a solid fix by tomorrow so we can get back on track.”
Since Tuesday, Yamaha has kept all its remaining riders off the track at the start of the second day of official Sepang MotoGP testing as they investigate the technical problem.
Five Yamaha riders are set to test the new V4 bike today, though Fabio Quartararo is sidelined with a finger injury sustained during a high-speed fall on Turn 5. Despite this, no riders appeared on the track during the first two hours, fueling speculation that the remainder of the test could be canceled.
Yamaha communicated via Crash.net: “The team is still investigating yesterday’s technical issues. As a precaution, testing is temporarily suspended until all checks are complete. We look forward to resuming as soon as possible.”
Although the technical problem did not directly cause Quartararo’s crash, he broke his finger and will miss testing on both the second and third days.
When asked if there had been any reports of engine trouble or smoke on the first day, Quartararo replied, “Yes. Actually, it was an electronics problem that persisted into the late afternoon. As far as I know, it wasn’t the engine directly, but I only completed a few laps.” However, the latest indications suggest the issues are indeed related to the engine.
Despite his injury, Quartararo ended Tuesday as Yamaha’s fastest rider on their new V4 machine.
Explaining his choice to stop riding and return to Europe for further medical assessment, Quartararo said, “We completed all the crucial tests. We could have continued for another two days focusing on electronics and mapping, but we believe we gathered enough data. Yamaha has already done extensive testing during shakedowns, so we decided to cancel the remainder. With various tasks split among the four race riders, we thought it best to step back and focus fully on preparing for Buriram.”
Teammate Alex Rins, along with Pramac riders Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu, plus test riders Augusto Fernandez and Andrea Dovizioso, were scheduled to test on the second day.
Fan Take: This development is a major moment for MotoGP fans because Yamaha has been a powerhouse for years, and these technical struggles could reshape the competitive field. How Yamaha handles this challenge could influence the direction of the sport and open opportunities for other teams to rise.
