Yamaha has admitted that Fabio Quartararo’s skill and adaptability sometimes make it harder to detect and pinpoint technical issues with their bike.

For the past two seasons, Yamaha has relied on just two race riders for bike development. Quartararo’s ability to perform on an underperforming machine can sometimes complicate matters for the team, according to Yamaha’s technical director, Max Bartolini.

“There’s a risk when you have talented riders like Fabio who quickly adapt and mask the problems,” Bartolini told Sky. “We’re also trying to gather as much information as possible from Alex Rins when he's available and from other avenues.”

Yamaha’s testing efforts have been supported by Andrea Dovizioso, who stepped in after Cal Crutchlow’s injury. However, Dovizioso downplayed the possibility of a long-term role with the team.

“Will Dovizioso be the one to help us? I’m not sure,” Bartolini said. “We’ve only done two tests, so we need to see how the partnership evolves. He’s a rider who’s quite good at understanding general needs and helping to build bikes that have historically worked well for most riders.”

Looking ahead, Yamaha will benefit from the addition of the Pramac satellite team next season, which will provide two extra bikes for collecting valuable data. They have signed experienced riders Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira, both of whom bring knowledge from competing with Yamaha’s rivals, including Honda, Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia.

“I’ve always had a good rapport with riders,” Bartolini added. “Having diverse riders will certainly be beneficial. It’s up to us to make the most of their individual strengths. If we can combine all of this, we should do well.”

In the longer term, Yamaha plans to introduce a V4 engine, aligning with the technology used by their competitors.