Fabio Quartararo’s challenges continued at the Motegi MotoGP race, as the Monster Yamaha rider once again ran out of fuel in a frustrating turn of events. This incident marked the second time in just three races that Quartararo faced fuel issues, costing him crucial positions on the track.
After running out of fuel in the Emilia Romagna MotoGP race, where he had to settle for a disappointing seventh after initially finishing fifth, Quartararo was hopeful following a competitive weekend. He described the Emilia Romagna experience as one of his best of the season. “I’m still super happy about how the race went. This is by far one of the best GPs we’ve had this year,” he reflected.
However, the atmosphere turned considerably colder at Motegi, where Quartararo struggled throughout the race. He described the frustrating finish, where he sputtered across the line and lost the eleventh position to Honda’s Johann Zarco. “Two times in three races, I think is a bit too much,” Quartararo lamented, noting that he felt the fuel running low just before the final bridge and that the bike stalled out of the last corner.
Electronic Issues to Blame?
Quartararo expressed concern about the lack of warning regarding low fuel, stating it became apparent only when it was “too late.” He attributed the problem to ongoing issues with Yamaha’s electronics, indicating that the fuel strategy was not functioning as it should. “For me, it’s just that they are not still OK with the electronics. I think the strategy [with the fuel] is not working, clearly,” he explained. He also mentioned that the dashboard lights, which should alert riders of low fuel, did not operate as expected, causing the warning to come too late.
In addition to the fuel issues, Quartararo struggled with a lack of rear grip throughout the race at Motegi, making the event particularly challenging. “It was a really tough weekend,” he admitted. “I felt like I was on a used tire from the first lap [of the grand prix]. I didn’t feel any grip from the beginning, and this was something that we can’t understand. Our [grip] depends way too much on the track and not from the bike.”
Teammate Alex Rins also faced difficulties, finishing in 16th place, just ahead of Yamaha wild-card rider Remy Gardner. As Quartararo and his team look to address these recurring fuel issues and grip problems, the focus will be on regaining competitiveness in the upcoming races of the season.
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