Quartararo reveals the advice he gave Toprak after disappointing Yamaha test

The 2026 Buriram test at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand was supposed to be a measure of progress for Yamaha after a disappointing few years, however, it turned out to be a marker of their unfortunate regression, leaving them with a difficult season ahead.

Toprak, a three-time WSBK champion, joined Yamaha's Pramac satellite team this year, but has already expressed his frustration at the poor performance and characteristics of the bike.

In an interview with MotoSan at the Buriram gave his grim assessment of Yamaha's upcoming season:

"I think it will take us all year, because we can't find all the solutions in a short time. As a rider, I'd like to fight for wins, or at least, like in last season, for pole position and the front row, but we're still a long way off, so we'll have to give it our all."

He then shed light on what he has told teammate Toprak in the Pramac garage in order to encourage the Turkish rider:

"I went to see him because I imagine it must be tough mentally. In SBK, he was always in the top three, and here I saw him looking discouraged." said Quartararo.

"He's arrived at Yamaha's most difficult time, and on top of that, he has to manage the change of tire supplier. I told him it's normal to have difficulties when you're making your debut."

"He just needs time to get faster and feel more comfortable. For my part, I would have liked someone to tell me the same thing when I struggled in my first test in Malaysia. He's a good guy, and I wish him all the best. A few words can help, and I think it's positive for him."

The opening round of the season is set to take place at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand on 27 February - 1 March.