MotoGP Thailand: Ducati’s Concerns About Yamaha and Quartararo Proves Justified—But for Unexpected Reasons

 In a surprising turn of events at the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix, Ducati’s preseason worries about Yamaha and Fabio Quartararo have been proven right, though not in the manner they anticipated. As the season opened in Buriram, all eyes were on Quartararo, touted as a primary challenger. However, his performance was far from the podium hopes that Ducati foresaw.

Starting the race from 10th position, Quartararo quickly found himself struggling, dropping to 19th place by the first lap. His visible frustration reflected the grip issues that plagued his race, hindering his ability to lean into corners confidently. Despite the hope that Yamaha would present a fierce competition, it was the sheer difficulty of Quartararo’s experience that shocked many.

While Ducati anticipated a fierce rivalry, it turns out that their real concern should have been how far Quartararo and Yamaha would fall behind, finishing a staggering 15th and over 26 seconds off the lead set by Marc Marquez. The issues with tire performance and grip that impacted Quartararo’s race only solidified the unexpected narrative that Ducati had envisioned.

As Yamaha grapples with these challenges, it remains to be seen how they will regroup and respond in the upcoming races. This weekend has given us plenty of food for thought—and all eyes will be on Quartararo and Yamaha as they strive to turn their fortunes around.