The first half of the match featured some memorable scenes
The first half of the 2025 MotoGP season has ended and the second half has begun. Yamaha’s factory rider Fabio Quartararo has taken second place at the Spanish Grand Prix and four pole positions.
On Thursday at the Austrian Grand Prix, which marks the start of the second half of the season, we spoke with Yamaha Motor’s Motorcycle Vehicle Development Division’s Motorcycle Racing Team President and Motorcycle Development Manager Takahiro Sumi about his assessment of the first half of the season.
“We are still fifth in the constructors’ standings, so in terms of results alone, we have not yet met our expectations. Up until now (up until the Austrian Grand Prix), Fabio has taken four pole positions. We have also had five opportunities to run in the lead.”
“This was something that was taken for granted in the past, but we haven’t been able to do it for a while. We were able to show some good scenes in a way that was properly seen and reached the people watching the race on TV and those all over the world who are waiting to see Yamaha do well. The results are still not great, but more than that, in terms of memories, we were able to show the fans some vivid scenes. I take that as a very positive thing.”
In the British Grand Prix, Quartararo started from pole position and led the race, coming within a whisker of victory, but on lap 12 he was forced to retire after the rear ride height device failed to return to its original position.
International television footage showed Quartararo stopping his bike and breaking down in tears. During the ensuing interview, I was almost directly in front of Quartararo, and there was a scene where he was answering questions as usual when he suddenly fell silent, then covered his face with his hands and burst into tears. It was a moment that conveyed what was going through Quartararo’s mind more than words could ever convey.
The same problem had also occurred to his teammate Alex Rins. However, since it occurred on the final lap, Rins only lost a position. It was a race that will remain in the hearts of those who watched, but it also showed that Yamaha’s current situation shows that a win is not impossible, depending on the circumstances.
“Obviously I can’t answer any technical questions, but we have a clear understanding of the cause of the problem and have already taken measures to prevent it from happening again,” recalls Washimi.
“That moment was truly regrettable, and everyone involved was shocked and devastated. The rider was the one who was most devastated, so I feel really sorry for him. It was a moment that left a strong impression on me.”
“However, if the conditions are right, we can run at the top. For a moment, we came close to smelling victory. After a long period of struggle, we were able to gain a little confidence and belief in what we had done. It was both positive and very negative. It was a moment with very complicated emotions.”
Now Yamaha is returning to the top of the podium, and a first win since the 2022 German Grand Prix is on the way.
profile
General Manager of Motorcycle Development Division, Motorcycle Vehicle Development Division, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
President of Yamaha Motor Racing
Takahiro Sumi
He is primarily responsible for the design of mass-produced motorcycles and the YZR-M1 chassis. He has served as the YZR-M1 project leader since 2019, and in 2022 he was appointed General Manager of the Motorcycle Development Department and President of Yamaha Motor Racing (Italy). ©Eri Ito
