Misano Day 1: Quartararo Admits Defeat, “It Won’t Be Like Barcelona”

The opening day of the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano has left Fabio Quartararo frustrated and far from optimistic. After enjoying a strong weekend just a week ago at Montmeló, where he surprised many with his consistency and race pace, the French rider has been unable to carry that form into Italy. Instead, Quartararo finds himself struggling with an unpredictable Yamaha M1, finishing Friday in 12th place and admitting that there is no chance of a repeat of his Barcelona turnaround.

Yamaha’s spotlight at Misano has largely shifted to the debut of their brand-new V4 prototype, tested by Augusto Fernandez. While the new machine has been grabbing headlines, Quartararo has had to contend with the old problems that continue to plague his current bike. And as he explained after practice, the unpredictable nature of his Yamaha is making confidence impossible.

Quartararo’s Disappointment at Misano

The Frenchman did not hide his feelings when asked to reflect on his first day. “I didn’t feel any sensations today. I’m having a lot of difficulty at the moment. What is certain is that I cannot be satisfied with 12th place. We can’t find solutions to our problems. The motorcycle is unpredictable, that’s the problem—it prevents us from having confidence. I can’t push like that,” Quartararo explained.

His words underline the frustration of a rider who knows he can deliver results, but whose machine consistently prevents him from doing so. Unlike Barcelona, where a late improvement in grip and settings allowed him to find pace over the weekend, Misano’s early sessions provided no sign of hope. “We cannot hope for a turnaround like in Barcelona. Last week I was better on Fridays. Here, we already knew after the half-day of testing that the same problems would continue,” he admitted.

The Problem with Grip

One of Quartararo’s biggest complaints is the lack of predictable grip depending on tire choice. On a track like Misano, where grip levels vary between sectors and tire performance is critical, this issue becomes a nightmare for riders. Quartararo highlighted how the Yamaha behaves differently depending on compound.

“On the pace, we’re not that bad, but on the time attack, we couldn’t do a lap and that’s what happened today. There’s grip, but on the soft, I don’t have any grip on the right, and on the medium, I don’t have any grip on the left. It changes in all areas, we were lost on one tour,” Quartararo explained.

For a rider like Quartararo, who relies on late braking and carrying corner speed, these inconsistencies leave him unable to push the limits. The Yamaha’s unpredictable behavior has been a recurring theme throughout 2025, and Misano has once again exposed its weaknesses.

The Shadow of the Yamaha V4 Project

Adding to the tension in the Yamaha camp is the attention surrounding the V4 prototype, tested extensively by Augusto Fernandez. The new machine, which marks a historic departure from Yamaha’s inline-four philosophy, is being watched closely by rivals, journalists, and fans alike. Its debut at Misano has inevitably overshadowed Quartararo’s struggles with the current bike.

Quartararo admitted that he has been keeping an eye on Fernandez’s times. “I follow Augusto’s times with one eye, of course; and he was close to the other Yamaha riders. We know he’s very fast, but I remain cautious about the analysis,” he said. While the Frenchman is careful not to draw too many conclusions, the fact that Yamaha is already heavily invested in the V4 project raises questions about how much energy is being put into improving the current M1.

Comparing Misano to Barcelona

At Montmeló, Quartararo managed to turn a difficult Friday into a competitive weekend, finishing inside the top 10 after a solid race. That turnaround gave both rider and team a boost of confidence. But as Quartararo himself admitted, Misano is a different story.

“Last week I was better on Fridays. We had half a day of testing here, and it was already the same problems. This time, it won’t be like Barcelona,” he said firmly. The difference lies in the fact that at Montmeló, Yamaha found settings that improved grip balance across the race weekend. At Misano, the issues are baked into the bike’s handling characteristics, leaving the Frenchman with little room to maneuver.

Yamaha’s Difficult Balancing Act

The 2025 season has seen Yamaha caught between two projects: trying to improve the current inline-four M1 while simultaneously developing the future V4 bike. Quartararo’s frustrations reflect the difficulty of balancing these two priorities. While the Frenchman is still Yamaha’s star rider, his performances are being overshadowed by the promise of the prototype machine.

Meanwhile, riders like Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira have also voiced concerns about unpredictability and inconsistency on the current bike. Crashes for satellite Yamaha riders further reinforced Quartararo’s point about the lack of stability. When multiple riders from the same manufacturer share the same concerns, it becomes clear that the problem lies not with the rider, but with the machine itself.

Quartararo’s Role in Yamaha’s Future

Despite his frustrations, Quartararo remains central to Yamaha’s plans. His contract extends beyond this season, and he is expected to play a crucial role in developing the V4. The Frenchman has been vocal about what he wants from the new bike: more stability under acceleration, better grip consistency, and a machine that allows him to exploit his natural riding style.

In the short term, however, Quartararo must contend with weekends like Misano. While he is realistic about his chances of fighting for a podium, his focus will shift to damage limitation—securing as many points as possible while avoiding crashes and costly errors.

Conclusion

Day 1 of the San Marino Grand Prix has left Fabio Quartararo disheartened. After showing flashes of his old brilliance in Barcelona, Misano has brought him back to reality with an unpredictable Yamaha that refuses to give him the confidence he needs. Finishing 12th on Friday, Quartararo openly admitted that there will be no miracle comeback this time.

While all eyes are on Yamaha’s bold new V4 project, Quartararo is forced to make the most of the current machine. His frustrations are understandable, but they also highlight just how vital the new prototype will be for Yamaha’s future. For now, though, Quartararo must endure the struggles of 2025, hoping that his patience will eventually be rewarded with a competitive package.