QUARTARARO-YAMAHA RIFT THROWS DOUBT ON REST OF 2026 SEASON

Fabio Quartararo’s relationship with Yamaha has taken another sharp turn as MotoGP heads into the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano, with nine races still remaining in 2026 and the fallout raising doubts over how both sides can finish the season together.

The 2021 world champion, who has already agreed to leave Yamaha at the end of the 2026 campaign after signing with Honda earlier this year, has been openly frustrated by what he sees as a lack of progress from Yamaha’s V4 project. That tension flared around the Aragon weekend, and it has continued to build into Misano.

After the Aragon race, Quartararo said he would no longer help Yamaha develop its current bike for 2027. The immediate trigger was Yamaha’s refusal to allow him to test Pirelli tyres at the Red Bull Ring next week. A second in-season test for 850cc bikes using Pirelli tyres is scheduled for the Monday after the Austrian Grand Prix. The situation is complicated by the tyre testing rules around the 2027 transition: some riders were not permitted to test Pirellis at Brno in June because they are changing teams for 2027, although certain current riders moving on did receive permission.

Yamaha responded to Quartararo’s comments with strong statements from team leadership, including Paolo Pavesio and Massimo Meregalli. The Crash MotoGP Podcast team—Amy Reynolds joined by Lewis Duncan and Peter McLaren—discussed whether the dispute can be contained, and what it could mean for both parties’ ability to work through the remaining portion of the year.

The episode also looked ahead to Misano’s race weekend, where the championship picture remains tight. With only 24 points separating the top three, any of Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez or Marco Bezzecchi could potentially depart Misano leading the standings. The podcast further asked whether Marc Marquez can keep his momentum after his Aragon double.