Fabio Quartararo’s performance at the Qatar Grand Prix, securing an 11th place finish nearly 18 seconds behind the winner, Bagnaia, and a 12th place in the Sprint, 13 seconds behind Martin, falls short of the expectations for the former world champion. Despite outperforming his teammate, Alex Rins, the gap to the front runners highlights the Yamaha’s shortcomings compared to its rivals, Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia. Quartararo, aware of the M1’s limitations, is now exploring his options, with Aprilia emerging as a potential new home.
Ducati’s roster is already overflowing, and KTM’s stable positions make GasGas the only viable option within its umbrella. Honda could be a possibility, but it would mean jumping from one challenging situation to another. With the market dynamics and Yamaha’s uncertain commitment to retaining Quartararo at all costs, the focus shifts to improving team performance, possibly at the expense of securing top riders.
The rider market is heating up, with Aprilia’s two highly coveted seats becoming the center of attention. Aleix Espargaro is considered the “Captain” at Aprilia, but his future beyond 2024 might hinge on a one-year contract, depending on his career plans. Maverick Viñales needs to prove his race pace, not just his qualifying speed. Additionally, Aprilia’s plans to supply the American Trackhouse team with official and updated bikes, similar to Pramac-Ducati’s arrangement, add another layer of complexity to the situation.
Quartararo and Aprilia’s CEO, Massimo Rivola, have already initiated discussions. With the market moving quickly, as evidenced by Ducati’s actions with Bagnaia and Aldeguer, a decision regarding Quartararo’s future is expected soon. The list of contenders for the RS-GP seat is long, with Enea Bastianini being a notable mention. The upcoming French Grand Prix in May could be a pivotal moment for revealing future plans.
As the MotoGP season progresses, the stakes are high, and the next races (and Sprints) promise to be intensely competitive.