Fabio Quartararo has publicly defended Jack Miller and Alex Rins, two Yamaha teammates set to leave the squad after a difficult 2026 season. Both riders will depart for World Superbikes next year after Yamaha’s switch to a V4 bike failed to improve its competitive position.
After 12 rounds, Yamaha sits seventh in the constructors’ standings with just 73 points, its best result a fifth-place finish by Quartararo at the Catalan Grand Prix. Quartararo, who will join Honda in 2027, currently trails Miller and Rins in the riders’ championship, sitting 14th with 55 points while his teammates occupy the 19th, 20th, and 21st spots.
In an interview, Quartararo argued that Miller and Rins remain fast and experienced despite their struggles, emphasizing their past race wins across different manufacturers. He added that Yamaha’s V4 has introduced a steep learning curve, with the team now focused on its 850cc project and unlikely to update the current bike for the remainder of the season.
