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Yamaha faces a harsh reality in the 2026 MotoGP season opener in Thailand. The new V4 project struggles to compete, finishing well behind rivals. Fabio Quartararo qualifies 16th, +1.358s off the pace, and the M1 fails to make a mark in the sprint and race, salvaging points only due to rival misfortunes.
Yamaha's performance starkly contrasts with last year's results. In 2025, Quartararo and the M1 were competitive, but this year the bike ranks as the worst in Buriram. Managing Director Paolo Pavesio acknowledges the gap, noting sacrifices made for race consistency.
Pavesio steps in to address the media in place of riders, emphasizing commitment to improvement. "We have quite a mountain to climb," he states, vowing to tackle challenges one step at a time. Yamaha's journey with the V4 has just begun, and the stakes are high.
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