Fabio Quartararo calls on Yamaha to deliver next season - 'It’s in their hands to make that step next year'

Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo has delivered a message to his team, saying that the ball is in their court to make progress next season after having recently enjoyed a consistent run of form in MotoGP.

In the last two months, the French rider has claimed two third-placed finishes at the Grand Prix of India and at the Indonesian GP before finishing fifth in Thailand last week.

The 24-year-old has previously been open about his concerns with the Yamaha bike, calling on the team to make improvements after criticising his machine’s aerodynamic design - adding the chassis is something riders do not want.

Quartararo doubled down on those comments following the Thailand GP, claiming the team needed to up their game for next year.

“I gave some really clear comments to Yamaha,” he said. “Now, it’s in their hands to make that step next year.

“There are still three races remaining. Of course it’s important to make it in the next three races.

“But we really have to focus for next year.”

He was the fastest rider in the warm-up sessions in Buriram, with Quartararo taking advantage of specific tyres that are designed to deal with the heat of the Thailand track better than normal tyres.

The 2021 MotoGP champion had also used the same tyres to secure a third-placed finish at the Indonesian GP and admitted that the tyres gave him more power.

“We could see the different tyre helped us because the others cannot generate that much power,” he said.

“It’s clearly an advantage in India, Thailand, Mandalika. Then Japan, struggling. Phillip Island, struggling.

“We have to understand it.

“But I’m pretty happy because, in the past few years in general, we were always much worse. Now, we’ve had our best result of the season.”

Yet amid his surge in form and consistency, Quartararo also demanded more from his team.

“Hopefully Yamaha can make a big step forward for next year," he added.

“When the tyres get used, I can stay a little bit closer. The difference is less.”

Quartararo currently sits eighth in the MotoGP standings, 244 points off Francesco Bagnaia at the top of the championship.

Yet, his fifth place finish at the weekend was a positive result, having not claimed a victory this season.

Quartararo said: “I enjoyed the race. My hands were burning, behind Marc and Aleix, but I am happy with how we end the day.

“It was a positive day, in one sense. I could really see our weak point and where we had to improve.

“I enjoyed the race. We’re missing a few things, of course. But I am happy, and hopefully we can make a step.”

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