Fabio Quartararo reveals reasons behind Yamaha exit and Honda move

Fabio Quartararo will leave Yamaha at the conclusion of the 2026 MotoGP season, bringing an eight-year premier class chapter to a close. Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix, the Frenchman admitted that a stagnation in development following Yamaha's switch to a V4 engine left him struggling for results and lacking enjoyment on track. Despite a strong initial test in Barcelona, subsequent progress stalled, leaving the rider with a package largely unchanged from its first iteration.

The 27-year-old revealed that the decision to walk away was solidified during the Valencia test last year. Although talks had taken place with other manufacturers in previous seasons, including Suzuki in 2022 and Aprilia, Quartararo ultimately chose to commit to Yamaha's V4 gamble before concluding that a fresh start was necessary. Yamaha has since secured Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura for its future factory lineup, while Quartararo turns his attention to a new challenge.

Opting for Honda represents another high-stakes transition between Japanese manufacturers known historically for cautious development cycles compared to European rivals. However, Quartararo pointed to internal shifts at HRC, including the recruitment of former Aprilia technical director Romano Albesiano and an expanded test roster featuring Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami, as evidence of a more aggressive development approach.

Acknowledging the inherent uncertainty of the 2027 technical regulations and tyre supplier change, Quartararo expressed optimism regarding Honda's ongoing prototype project. The move requires hitting the reset button with a largely new crew, but the 2021 champion enters the next phase aiming to recapture his competitive edge and rediscover the enjoyment of fighting at the front.

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