Photo by Steve Wobser/Getty ImagesToprak Razgatlioglu’s impressive start to his debut MotoGP season has already seen him get the better of Fabio Quartararo, and Marco Melandri isn’t exactly shocked by how quickly things have progressed.Razgatlioglu picked up his first MotoGP point at COTA, finishing just ahead of Quartararo. The Frenchman remains Yamaha’s leading rider with six points in 2026, but Razgatlioglu is closing the gap between them.Kenan Sufuoglu had predicted that Razgatlioglu could become Yamaha’s main man by the end of the season. It’s still early days, but there are already signs that this could be playing out.The new V4 engine continues to be a major headache for Yamaha.

They’ve fallen behind other teams in terms of pace, and it doesn’t seem like a fix is coming anytime soon. Quartararo has had issues with both motivation and performance for a while now, which has only added to their problems.After their difficult start with the new V4 engine, there were discussions inside the team about replacing Test Team manager Silvano Galbusera. However, it appears that they have decided against making changes for now.Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty ImagesMarco Melandri says Fabio Quartararo is ‘helpless’ at Yamaha in 2026Chaz Davies put his money on Razgatlioglu overtaking Quartararo in 2026, and Melandri isn’t surprised to see the Turkish rider coming out on top.Melandri told Fanpage that Quartararo looks “helpless” at Yamaha, noting that the constant battles at the back of the grid have clearly taken a toll on his motivation.“Toprak is a champion, I’m not surprised.

Quartararo, on the other hand, is paying the price: when you’re always behind, motivation wanes. It’s inevitable.“On one side we have a mature rider who has just arrived and wants to prove he can compete with anyone; and then there’s someone who has been pushing for years and probably feels helpless.”Yamaha’s Struggles Deepening, Says Marco MelandriMarco Melandri didn’t mince words when speaking about Yamaha’s situation in 2026, describing the team as being in a “deeper crisis” without any clear path forward.He added: “Honda is improving, but it’s still far away. Mir is doing his best, but the bike is still complicated.”“Yamaha, on the other hand, is in a deeper crisis: it’s no longer just a question of engine or grip, but of the entire project. They’re truly in a tunnel, and there seems to be no light in sight.”Read more:After joining Yamaha, Jorge Martin wonders if the team can deliverJorge Lorenzo recalls Valentino Rossi’s low standing at Yamaha in 2013Daniel Holgado turns down Yamaha to join Gresini for 2027 MotoGP step-up