QUARTARARO TIED FOR FEWEST CRASHES AS HE LOOKS AHEAD TO HONDA SWITCH

Fabio Quartararo’s relationship with Yamaha appears to be in its final phase, with one statistic from the 2026 season doing most of the talking. According to the report, the French rider sits at the very bottom of the crash leaderboards, tied with Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez on three crashes so far after 13 rounds. The article frames that low number as a sign that Quartararo is not currently pushing as hard as he could to find the limit of his Yamaha prototype.

The logic behind the crash-leaderboard reading is straightforward in the piece: riders who are constantly stretching their machines tend to crash more often, while those with fewer offs are either not seeking the edge or are already comfortable with the level of effort they’re applying. In Quartararo’s case, the report argues it’s the former—he is prioritising staying fit and ready for his move to Honda ahead of MotoGP’s new technical era.

The season context is also central to the argument. The article notes that the 2026 title fight is described as a battle of attrition involving multiple riders rather than a small group of clear-cut contenders. In that kind of championship, the report suggests, riders can’t afford to throw away points by overreaching. For Quartararo, however, the low crash count is presented less as cautious strategy and more as a sign he is effectively “checking out” of the Yamaha project while focusing on the future.

The piece also points to Quartararo’s behaviour away from the track as further evidence. It says he has been reported to be “counting off the days” at Yamaha ahead of the switch, and that this is reflected in his lack of media duties on race weekends. The report adds that Quartararo “rarely has anything nice to say about his team,” implying he is avoiding press commitments rather than engaging with them.

While the article acknowledges that it’s understandable for Quartararo to conserve himself given Yamaha’s lack of competitiveness this year, it says the overall picture still looks unflattering. It also raises a concern about how his approach could affect his standing in the paddock if he continues to disengage when points are on the line.

Finally, the report brings in the perspective of Honda. It claims that “not everyone” at Honda is happy about Quartararo’s future arrival for that reason—if the Japanese manufacturer doesn’t deliver a competitive package immediately, there’s uncertainty about whether the 27-year-old will be fully invested when the pressure rises. The article ends by warning that, in a sport where motivation and results matter, Quartararo risks seeing his reputation decline if he keeps giving up when he’s needed most.