Fabio Quartararo has revealed that Yamaha’s 2024 bike turning difficulties resulted in him struggling with arm pump during last weekend’s MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix.
This condition piled on more misery for the Frenchman after a difficult start to 2024, where a 15th-placed finish in the main grand prix earned him a consolation point.
Quartararo capitalised on several front-running riders crashing out in the Sprint to claim third but was later demoted to fifth having breached the minimum tyre pressure.
Yamaha’s 2024 bike has endured difficulties turning all season and the 2021 champion explained that he could not go at full speed during the race due to arm pump.
“I mean from the beginning I made a good start but [in the sprint] was also the factor that I had a little bit of luck that everything was really good in front,” he said.
“I made a great start also [in the. Grand prix], but I didn’t manage to gain positions.
“And I mean we struggled from lap one with the rear grip, I struggled a lot to turn, I forced the bike a lot to turn on the brakes and for me, I had an issue with the arm.
“So, from mid-race to the end I had to slow down.
“When you are riding really tense, tight on the bike I was not great. So, the last 10 laps I was just cruising because the arm was not right.”
This isn’t the first time Quartararo has combated the condition, having endured arm pump difficulties on the same circuit in 2021, which saw him fall down the order.
Quartararo told Autosport that he wasn’t surprised these issues came back, stating that the bike has caused more mild instances on previous occassions this season.
“No, was not a surprise,” he added. “I mean, it happens many times this year but it was never really a limit.
“But when you feel good on the bike you don’t have it, and when you feel not alright you have it.
“Some races I had it, but not that much and not that early.
“But it’s part of our challenge, also today [Sunday] we tested the bike a little bit this morning which we thought was better. But it was a bit worse. This is what happened.”
Despite the nature of the Jerez circuit not suiting the 2024 Yamaha, the 25-year-old knows heading to Le Mans that the bike will allow him to “feel better on that track”.
“It’s always the matter [of improving the bike],” he said when asked if there was anything he could do about the arm pump.
“When you feel good, everything is perfect. When you are riding like you are forcing the bike a lot, like this is one of the tracks that I think is right now one of the worst for us because the turning is the weak point [along] with the grip and on this track, you need both.
“So, I expect Le Mans to be better because it’s more about braking and I will feel better on that track.”
