Fabio Quartararo says he’s unfazed by MotoGP’s shortened pre-season testing schedule for 2027, insisting four days of track time are “enough” to adapt to his new Honda ride—even with the added challenge of switching to Pirelli tyres and the new 850cc technical regulations.
While some riders, including Pecco Bagnaia, have voiced concerns about the reduced testing—especially with major changes in engines and tyres—Quartararo remains confident. “We’ll have two days in Sepang and two in Thailand. I think having four days is enough time to adapt. I don’t think it will be such a big thing [to lose one day],” he said at Aragon.
Quartararo, who has spent his entire MotoGP career with Yamaha, noted he already had to adapt significantly this year when Yamaha switched from an inline-four to a V4 engine: “I didn’t change brand from last year to this year, but it’s a completely different bike. I had to adapt to this bike. Next year with Honda and different tyres, I’ll have to learn again.”
He emphasized the importance of learning during race weekends—not just tests: “The experience you take during a test is one thing, but you need the race weekends. It’s a bit different when you’re in a race weekend, where you have to overtake, brake, change direction [with the other bikes around you].”
Quartararo isn’t expecting instant results: “I don’t expect to come and win straight away. I’ll have to learn, adapt, and maximize as soon as possible the performance on the bike to be fast.”
As Quartararo prepares for a new chapter with Honda, he’s taking the changes and challenges in stride.
