The cover image is horrifying. Fabio Quartararo rides a super naked desperately slowly during the British Grand Prix. Oh no, that’s in fact an M1, nothing other than the best of the best produced by Yamaha in MotoGP. Yet another negative weekend for the Frenchman, and the Monster Energy team, which begs the question - will the marriage between the parties survive the current contract period?

Quartararo and Yamaha together in MotoGP since 2019: the highlights

He was a rookie, but a daredevil. When El Diablo made his debut in the reigning class, he had little to prove, other than to demonstrate that he deserved the promotion from Moto2. Easier said than done, you say. And you’d be right, though Yamaha – in the form of Petronas SRT – instilled the right level of expectation: build experience among the greats and, when you can, beat them.

And he did just that, scoring six podiums and just missing out on the win to Marc Marquez a couple of times in what was perhaps the Honda rider’s best year. Quartararo's share price rocketed as he confirmed his status as one to watch the following season.

2020 saw the Frenchman battling for the title from start to finish, although it was ultimately Joan Mir who was crowned champion with the Suzuki. Quarta appeared to go into freefall from mid-season on, and he paid dearly for this. But it seemed clear that he’d soon make up for this, which he did in 2021, securing the title and coming close the following year too, before losing out to Pecco Bagnaia on the Ducati.

Yamaha with Fabio, never so bad together in MotoGP

Let’s dedicate a paragraph to the winning 2021 season, which many saw as the result of too many mistakes by Pecco Bagnaia. But what does that mean? In any sporting contest, the winner will profit from their rivals' misfortune, and MotoGP is no different. Fabio deserved the title, which he won for Yamaha despite...

...a less than convincing M1. This was another claim of those who saw Quarta’s win as something of a ‘fluke’, claiming that, if the ducatista hadn’t made mistakes, then Fabio wouldn’t have won. But if those same individuals maintain that the Desmosedici was the superior bike and the Yamaha inferior, then how do we explain it?!

Let’s say this – the Frenchman was the best, just as the Italian is today. Contrarily, the Frenchman is now experiencing his worst ever form in MotoGP, or in the world championship in general. Can there be a way out?

El Diablo furious with Yamaha: MotoGP marriage at risk

If we return to 2022, we recall Fabio’s ability to stick with Pecco, and even beat him. At the end of the day, and despite the clear supremacy of Bagnaia with the factory Lenovo, El Diablo was nevertheless strong, winning, scoring podiums and keeping the championship alive as far as Valencia.

The rider was there, the bike and team too. Yes, the Quarta-M1-Monster Energy package was competitive.

Today it’s full of holes.

And considering Quarta’s constant complaints about the bike, what is the point of continuing? For financial reasons, OK. Or out of a sense of professionalism, fine. Or perhaps a lack of alternatives? Mmm...

There have been other opportunities, but none that would guarantee the kind of salary Iwata offers, with factory rider status. Quartararo's contract is valid for the entire 2024 season and so we ask you – will it continue like this, or worse, for another year and a half? Or will someone make a change…

It might even be Yamaha to make the first move. Have you considered that?