MotoGP, Quartararo: "I wouldn't have stayed in Yamaha if they hadn't changed their methods"

Being used to winning and fighting for the positions that count, Fabio Quartararo continues to struggle to accept the situation in which he and Yamaha have ended up for some time now. But, thanks to recent developments brought by the Japanese manufacturer, we may finally begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Proof of this was the seventh place he conquered in this Saturday's Sprint Race on the Assen track.

"As mentioned earlier, we can't really seehe benefits of the engine changes on this circuit but, at least today, I finished close to fifth and sixth. I hope to battle with them tomorrow. Are the updates helping on the flying lap? No. Everything is the same as before. In the specific case of Holland, even if I had entered the Q2, the position would always have been between 11th and 12th. Regarding the pace, on the other hand, we're better off. I think Austria and Misano will be the real sounding board. Will I test during the break? Fortunately, it's forbidden," he said, at the end of the race.

Going into the specifics of what's working and what's not, the French rider explained: "We've gained in power, but lost in other areas, such as cornering and agility. In fact, if you go and look at our speed here, it's not the same as the first rounds of the championship. We've become slower, but the progress in terms of aerodynamics is evident, while we're still far in terms of electronics. That's certainly our weak point."

When asked about a difference between the inline four-cylinder they're usong and the V-configuration engine, Fabio honestly said, "I have no idea, because I've never tried a V4, and I don't understand anything about mechanics, so I couldn't pinpoint any benefits. I can say that, in Valencia, we tested a new inline that improved entry and agility. It's clear that our critical issues are the results of the engine. How many options do we have? We now have the 2024 version, the one we're using here, and another one."

Recently the 25-year-old complained of physical pain. "My arm is still a problem, even in the sprint. I must say that the unit tried at Ricardo Tormo had helped me in that respect. We'll see tomorrow," he confessed.

Lasty, he spoke about the team's renewal of personnel. "Clearly, one of the reasons I stayed is the revolution when it comes to communication and working method. Now we proceed more quickly to get the required updates, Also, now we know where to go, and the arrival of a satellite team will help us. Even if it doesn't look like it on TV, there's been progress," he pointed out.