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The result of the Qatar Grand Prix did not satisfy Fabio Quartararo, with his 11th place in Losail -almost 18 seconds behind the winner, Bagnaia - and his 12th place in the Sprint Race, a full 13 seconds behind Martin.
And it certainly can't be enough for the former champion that, in both cases, he was able to do better than his teammate, Alex Rins:16th and 17th, respectively. A gap that surely didn't make the winner of the Austin 2023 with Honda happy.
So, the reality is that, even if it improved in top speed - also because it rides with less down force - Yamaha is still far behind Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia. And Fabio probably realized this, since he rode most of the race in the turbulence generated by Maverick Viñales' RS-GP. And, only in the last laps, with a prideful move, did he manage to put Joan Mir's Honda behind him.
In short, the MotoGP devil realized that this isn't the way to get to heaven. The M1 2024 has improved a bit, but the competition has done better. And the gap between 2023 and 2024, compared to the best bikes, has actually increased, since the French rider reached an 8th place just short of 6" from the winner at the end of last year in the Sprint, while he was 7th at 7.8" in the Grand Prix.
Comparing results is never a good idea, even if on the same track, at different times. There are so many variables, but some data can certainly be extrapolated. And Fabio's race, in which he was forced to start from the back, seems to have become even more strenuous now that the regulations dictate that the pole counts for both races (truly idiotic). This means a double penalty for the constructors that fail to perform at their best on the flying lap.
Fabio Quartararo knows this all too well, and that's why he's already begun to look around. Discreetly, and without failing to send in-house signals. He knows that there aren't many ways out for him at the moment. In fact, there's only one: Aprilia.
Ducati is already overbooked and may probably have to give up a team at the end of the year. KTM is slightly better off with two shaky places. But, with Binder and Acosta who are very strong, it would mean having to accept the GasGas satellite team.
Of course, there's Honda, with also Joan Mir who's contract is expiring, but that would be like going out of the frying pan and into the fire.
On closer inspection, since some of the Ducati riders will surely switch, maybe a little place or two might open up, but not in the garages that count.
So that leaves the first hypothesis, the most likely, also because Yamaha will want to keep him ... but at all costs? Or, rather, will the interest in getting the second team prevail, perhaps even more important, in order to improve performance.
It's Dante's circle of struggling constructors: the best riders go on the run but, to progress, they need to improve the bikes. Otherwise, the fastest ones won't accept it. Just ask Ducati. It's something they know very well.
However, there are two desirable spots on the market right now. Actually, truly desirable: Aprilia's. For the Noale constructor, Aleix Espargaro is "the Captain". Bit, at the end of 2024, the right choice for Massimo Rivola, should Aleix want to end his career, is a yearly contract. Maverick Viñales, on the other hand, will have to prove that he's also going strong in the races and not only in practice. Then there's the fact - which still has to be confirmed - that the Venetian constructor wants to equip the American Trackhouse team with official, updated bikes, along the lines of Pramac-Ducati.
Now Fabio Quartararo and Massimo Rivola have already started talking. It's no secret. And since they're all moving very fast, like Ducati has proven with Bagnaia - but also with the pre-emption on Aldeguer, whose foundations were laid doen in Qatar 2023 - a decision for the fast French rider will soon come.
After all, it's true that one can wait, that the World Championship is long, but the list of suitors for that RS-GP is also a long. One name that can me metioned: Enea Bastianini. The French Grand Prix is just two months away: May 12th, in Le Mans, could be the date the cards are uncovered.
The upcoming Grand Prixs (and Sprints) are going to be really intense.
