QUARTARARO LOOKS AHEAD TO HIS FIRST HONDA RUN IN VALENCIA AND SAYS HONDA NOW UNDERSTANDS MARQUEZ

In the paddock at Misano’s Marco Simoncelli circuit, Fabio Quartararo spoke after the confirmation of his move to Honda for next season. The 2021 MotoGP champion described his current campaign as a “transitional season,” saying the frustration comes from racing on a Yamaha that is “nowhere” near where he needs it to be. He added, “Every night, I think about how that first Valencia outing with Honda will go.”

Autosport had already reported that Quartararo’s relationship with Yamaha has become strained, with the 27-year-old set to leave for Honda in 2027 after riding the marque since 2019, winning 11 races and taking the 2021 title. MotoGP News added further context around why Quartararo believes the switch makes sense despite Honda’s recent struggles. He said he has “no doubts” about the decision, even though joining a Honda team that is currently second-from-bottom can look like a sideways step when both Japanese manufacturers have been enduring long victory droughts—Honda since 2021 and Yamaha since 2022.

Quartararo argued that Honda has changed since Marc Marquez lost faith in the team. He pointed out that when he signed his Honda deal over the winter, Ducati were still the benchmark in MotoGP, and since then Aprilia have threatened that status. He also said the timing of his decision was not driven by a missed chance at Ducati, noting that before his last Yamaha deal expired in 2024 he had the opportunity to ride a satellite Ducati but chose to extend his contract instead. He also dismissed the idea that Ducati was on his radar this time around, saying the focus for the factory side was on signing Pedro Acosta, but that it was “not on his radar regardless.”

Asked why he didn’t try to get a Ducati, Quartararo told Motorsport.com: “Because I think Honda has been going through a period for several years now in which it wants to win again. It’s putting all its resources into making a comeback. With the change in regulations, the new bikes and the new tyres, I think Honda can spring a surprise and produce a very competitive bike.”

He also addressed Marquez’s departure from Honda at the end of 2023, when the Spaniard broke his contract to join Gresini and move toward a factory Ducati path. Quartararo believes Marquez left because Honda weren’t “aggressive” enough at the time, but he said that has now shifted. “I think they understood [why Marc left],” he said. “Honda lost the best rider of all, and at that point they understood what Marc was asking for. They realised they had to work in a much more aggressive way. Over the last two years, Honda has made quite a big step forward.”

Looking ahead to 2027, Quartararo said he doesn’t expect to be in the fight for victory at the season opener. “In testing, you get the feeling for the bike, but I can’t say that I’ll arrive at the first race and that my goal will be to win; that wouldn’t be right,” he said. “Maybe I’ll do two days on the bike and feel incredibly good, but we’ll have to keep learning through the first few Grands Prix. If I feel ready to fight for the podium or the win, I’ll go for it; but we can’t expect to skip stages that quickly. Just because I’m going to Honda doesn’t mean the bike will suddenly be the best one; we’ll have to work, make adjustments and take it step by step. Step by step, but quickly.”

Quartararo also said he won’t get a chance to test the Pirelli tyres until Valencia at the earliest, after Yamaha blocked him from trying their 850cc prototype.