Fabio Quartararo has finished the Sepang test with a sense of satisfaction. The Yamaha rider has made significant progress compared to last year and is confident about the season ahead.
fabio quartararo concluded the 2025 MotoGP pre-season testing at Sepang with a performance that gave him hope in Yamaha The French driver finished third overall, with a time of 1'56, becoming the only non-Ducati rider to cross this symbolic barrierThis performance marks a clear improvement compared to 2024, where Quarterly struggled to compete with the leaders.
Quarterly did not hide his satisfaction at the end of these tests. Very happy ", did he declare. “ My fastest qualifying lap last year was 1'57.5, so I think the gap is more than 0,8 seconds. From 2019 to 2024 we improved by 0,6 seconds, and from 2024 to 2025 by 0,8 seconds. Of course, we can be happy. You have to stay calm, this is just a test, but I think it's pretty good. »
The Frenchman also compared the performances of Yamaha to those of Ducati, stressing that the gap has narrowed considerably. Last year in testing Pecco Bagnaia did a lap time of 1'56.6 or 1'56.5, and that's more or less the lap time they did this year. So, I think we can be quite satisfied »
One of the main problems of Yamaha in 2024 were the qualifications, where Quarterly often started far down the grid, which made the races difficult. The worst part of last year wasn't the racing ", has explained fabio quartararo. " This was especially a trick that posed a problem last year, because we always went very far away from the leading pack and it was very difficult to overtake »
Fabio Quartararo: “ We joked on the first day that we would do a 1'56, and that's the reality today »
This year, the situation seems to have reversed. Before I made my first attack, I knew I was going to do a 1'56 “, he revealed. “ With Maio Meregalli, Monster Energy Yamaha team manager, we were joking on the first day that we would do a 1'56, but every day we got closer and closer, and in the end, this is the reality today »
Quarterly attributes this progress to a combination of technical adjustments on the Yamaha M1 and changes in his riding style. In fact, There are many electronic elements that have changed the way I ride. – we have new things on the bike. Of course it is difficult to see what is new, but in terms of lap times we can see that we were much faster than last year »
However, Quarterly recognizes that grip remains a weak point. We have a lot improved our feeling in the turns, in changes of direction as well He explained. " But our weak point is grip.. Today the track was really grippy, you can see it is black because of the rubber. I won't say our lap time is wrong, because last year it was the same and We were one second off the lead. Now we are 0,3 seconds off the lead. »
Beyond the qualifying performances, Quarterly also showed competitive race pace. It wasn't really a Sprint simulation, I had to do six laps with one setting and six laps with another setting, with new tires. He explained. " It was good. I think we have to take into account that last year we were 11th and 12th here, and now we look at the pace of Marc Marquez, Pecco Bagnaia and Alex Marquez who are the fastest here. So I think the gap is quite big, but I'm quite happy with the lap time we did, especially because it wasn't just one lap and that's it. »
Quarterly is convinced that Yamaha has taken a giant step forward this year. I think every year, especially from 2022 to 2024, we take a step forward, but Ducati and the others take two or three. ", did he declare. " I think this year, we have managed to make much more progress. I think it's a different riding style than 2019 or 2021, but I feel like the bike is fast, so the riding style is slightly different than in the past, but I think This is the first year that we have managed to close the gap »
The trials of Sepang have shown that Yamaha et Quarterly are back in the title race. With an improved M1 and a determined driver, the Japanese team will be hoping to compete with Ducati and other leaders in 2025. The next tests at Buriram will be an opportunity to confirm this progress and to fine-tune the settings before the first Grand Prix of the season. One thing is certain: Fabio Quartararo et Yamaha have found their bite again, and the 2025 season promises to be exciting.
MotoGP, Sepang J3 Test, Final: times
