Why Fabio Quartararo believes Yamaha can fight Ducati again

French MotoGP rider Fabio Quartararo says Yamaha is showing some positive signs ahead of the French Grand Prix at Le Mans, even if he still does not expect miracles from the bike this season.

After a difficult start to the 2026 MotoGP campaign, Quartararo arrived at his home race with slightly more confidence following a productive test in Jerez. The 2021 world champion explained that Yamaha had found better front-end feeling with new aerodynamic parts tested after the Spanish Grand Prix.

Quartararo admitted the improvement was unexpected because Yamaha’s new V4 project has struggled badly in recent races. Earlier this season, the French rider openly said the manufacturer still did not fully understand how to solve the bike’s biggest problems.

Despite that frustration, Quartararo believes the latest updates have at least given him more confidence when entering corners. He explained that feeling at the front of the bike is extremely important for his riding style and had been missing for much of the season.

However, Quartararo also tried to calm expectations before his home Grand Prix. He warned fans that repeating last year’s pole position performance at Le Mans would be very difficult because Yamaha is still lacking overall pace compared to Ducati and Aprilia.

The Frenchman said Yamaha still needs major improvements in acceleration, grip and top speed before it can regularly challenge for podiums again. Even so, he described the recent test results as a small but important step forward for the Japanese manufacturer.

Quartararo remains one of MotoGP’s biggest stars and continues to carry Yamaha’s hopes during a challenging period for the factory. French fans are expected to create a huge atmosphere at Le Mans as they support their home rider throughout the weekend.