MotoGP Sepang Official Testing
Yamaha halts Sepang MotoGP running while investigating M1 engine issue
The Japanese manufacturer has paused all track activity after failing to identify the cause of the problem that forced Fabio Quartararo to stop on Tuesday
Oriol Puigdemont
Edited: Feb 4, 2026, 8:37 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Yamaha has decided to suspend all on-track activity during the second day of the Sepang MotoGP test while it works to determine the cause of the issue that forced Fabio Quartararo to stop on Tuesday.
The Frenchman crashed at Turn 5 of the Malaysian circuit on the opening day of the official test and fractured the middle finger on his right hand. Despite the swelling and heavy bleeding, he returned to the track later in the afternoon, but his M1 stopped at Turn 2 due to an engine problem — specifically with the V4 power unit that Yamaha has focused its development on since last year.
Hours later, Quartararo decided to pack up and return to Spain. He is due to undergo medical checks in Barcelona on Wednesday, where doctors will establish a recovery plan aimed at getting him to the next test in Buriram, just over two weeks away, in the best possible condition.
That same evening, Yamaha’s engineers investigated the nature of the problem but were unable to find an answer. This raised serious concerns to the point that the manufacturer opted to suspend all track activity until a clear explanation is found. As a result, no Yamaha riders took to the circuit on Wednesday morning while the factory in Japan and the race team on site worked together to shed light on the situation.
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
“We are still trying to understand what caused the problem that affected Fabio yesterday afternoon [Tuesday],” Yamaha team manager Massimo Meregalli told Motorsport.com.
“It’s a safety issue. Once we understand the origin of it, we will go back out — whether that’s today or tomorrow. We are waiting for the green light.”
Meregalli denied that the failure was in any way related to Quartararo’s crash and played down the overall impact the setback would have on Yamaha’s test programme.
“The problem has absolutely nothing to do with Fabio’s crash,” he stressed, while underlining the importance of the work completed during last week’s three-day shakedown.
“To put a percentage on it, I would say we have completed 80% of the programme we had planned. We have the base of the bike. Set-up is what we would have worked on over these two days,” the former Italian rider explained.
“Probably Toprak is the only rider who hasn’t yet been able to try what was on his schedule. All the others had the same material,” the Yamaha executive concluded.
Photos from Sepang test - Day 1
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
Sepang test - Day 1, in photos
MotoGP
56
Read Also:
MotoGPWhy KTM riders see encouraging signs after first day of Sepang test
MotoGPJorge Martin explains post-season surgeries: 'I couldn’t even lift a water bottle'
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Jorge Martin explains post-season surgeries: 'I couldn’t even lift a water bottle'
Next article MotoGP Sepang test: Honda leads rain-hit Day 2 as engine issues sideline Yamaha
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Oriol Puigdemont
MotoGP teams are the ones who wanted new weekend format, says Carlos Ezpeleta
MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP teams are the ones who wanted new weekend format, says Carlos Ezpeleta
MotoGP confirms 2027 weekend format changes, including new sprint qualifying
MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
MotoGP confirms 2027 weekend format changes, including new sprint qualifying
More from
Yamaha Factory Racing
MotoGP to fine riders €5,000 for failing to attend promotional events
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
MotoGP to fine riders €5,000 for failing to attend promotional events
Risky or good for the show? MotoGP riders divided on 2027 weekend format change
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
Risky or good for the show? MotoGP riders divided on 2027 weekend format change
Alex Rins jokes “I sh*t my pants” as Jack Miller gives him MotoGP taxi ride
MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
Alex Rins jokes “I sh*t my pants” as Jack Miller gives him MotoGP taxi ride
Latest news
Brennan Poole to leave Alpha Prime Racing; team owners 'disappointed' to see him go
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Charlotte II
5 h
Brennan Poole to leave Alpha Prime Racing; team owners 'disappointed' to see him go
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
6 h
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Winners and losers from NASCAR Cup at Charlotte after dramatic finish
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
9 h
Winners and losers from NASCAR Cup at Charlotte after dramatic finish
Charles Leclerc admits he missed a chance against Max Verstappen – but not the obvious one
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
9 h
Charles Leclerc admits he missed a chance against Max Verstappen – but not the obvious one
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe