– Fabio Quartararo is focusing on his MotoGP future with Honda. At the official post-season test on December 1, he will be able to test the RC214V with Pirelli tires for the first time at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.
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Initially, Quartararo wanted to persuade Yamaha to allow him to test the Pirelli tires at the official Monday test (September 21) after the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg.
He only wanted to get a first impression of the Pirelli tires and ride the current 1,000cc Yamaha. Yamaha rejected this request. In Spielberg, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Izan Guevara will test the 850cc Yamaha with Pirelli tires.
“I mean, I will have to adapt anyway,” says Quartararo about the change awaiting him in the winter. He compares it to this year when he had to adapt from the Yamaha inline four-cylinder to the V4 bike.
“I didn’t switch brands from last year to this year, but it’s a completely different bike. And I had to adapt to this bike anyway.”
“The performance isn’t there yet, but I had to change my riding style. And the same will happen next year. Of course, it will also be a different tire. So that’s something we have to learn.”
“But I don’t expect to just get on the bike and be very fast immediately. In Valencia, it will of course be a day where I have to find out where my weaknesses are, where I still need to learn during the winter.”
The one test day on December 1 will basically be a first introduction to the Honda team. The focus will be on adjusting Quartararo’s seating position.
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Since it is expected to be quite cool in Valencia in early December, it will hardly be possible to draw other conclusions on this one test day, especially regarding performance.
Winter tests in February: Only four instead of five days
At the beginning of 2027, the tests will be shortened by one day despite the major rule changes. In Sepang (Malaysia), the regular riders will have only two test days on January 31 and February 1 instead of the previous three.
Then there will be two test days on February 6 and 7 in Buriram (Thailand). Especially for the many riders who, like Quartararo, change manufacturers, there will be hardly any preparation time.
The former MotoGP world champion does not see it as a serious problem that there is one less test day: “No, I don’t think that will be such a big deal.”
“The experience you gain during the tests is one thing, but then you need the race weekend. It’s similar when riding, but the race weekend is a bit different.”
“Because then you race against everyone. So you have to learn the strength of overtaking, where you can overtake, direction changes, braking.” Because you can’t practice racing during the tests. “Exactly,” says Quartararo.
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“I don’t expect to come and win immediately. I will have to learn, I will have to adapt, and try to maximize the bike’s performance as quickly as possible to be fast.”
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