QUARTARARO SAYS BELIEF IN HONDA PROJECT SWAYED HIS 2027 DECISION

Fabio Quartararo says his decision to leave Yamaha for Honda in 2027 came down to belief in Honda’s project, rather than the salary considerations that had been suggested in early reports.

The 2021 world champion said he and his team considered several offers before narrowing the choice to two. With MotoGP set for a major technical reset in 2027, he explained, the decision required careful thought. “We spent from November until January really trying to make a decision, and we weighed up the pros and cons, because there was a bit of everything,” he told Diario AS journalist Mela Chercoles.

Quartararo said Honda ultimately stood out because it was the project he trusted most, and because he had seen developments he liked from December onwards. Asked to identify the other manufacturer still in contention, he declined to name it, saying: “I’d rather not say it, but you already know which one it is.” Aprilia is understood to have been the alternative, though Quartararo did not confirm that publicly.

The Frenchman’s choice comes after a difficult period with Yamaha. He has been frustrated by the manufacturer’s progress, particularly this season’s V4 power unit, and reports have said relations between the two sides have deteriorated. He is also reportedly unwilling to help develop Yamaha’s 2027 bike. An extension with Yamaha was considered unlikely, while Ducati was reportedly focused on Pedro Acosta as a possible replacement for Francesco Bagnaia. There had been no reported links between Quartararo and KTM.

Quartararo is nevertheless optimistic about Honda’s prospects under the incoming rules, which will bring 850cc engines and other technical changes. He expects engine performance to remain important despite the reduction in power, and believes Honda is well placed in that area. “The engines will be slightly less powerful, but the engine will be very important, and I think Honda has a good engine,” he said.

An early indication of Honda’s progress came at a test at the Red Bull Ring, where Diogo Moreira topped the timesheets on an initial version of the manufacturer’s 2027 machine, reportedly by half a second. The result offers an encouraging sign for Honda’s preparations, although Quartararo’s move is rooted in his confidence in the project rather than any single test performance.