Quartararo’s bad luck: broken finger

Fabio Quartararo’s Malaysian testing campaign effectively lasted just one official day. The French rider will miss the remaining track sessions due to a painful finger micro-fracture sustained during a nasty crash at Turn 5. Although he bravely returned to his Yamaha M1 in the afternoon, completing 14 laps to finish ninth overall, the team and rider mutually decided to halt all activities. He will now return home to recover fully before the crucial Thailand tests later this month.

Yamaha confirmed they are prioritizing his recovery for Buriram. The team downplayed the absence, stating that since Quartararo participated in the shakedown, "the most important parts were already tested."

It is a difficult start for the 2021 World Champion, currently surrounded by market rumors linking him to Honda for 2027. Fans hope "El Diablo" returns perfectly fit for the final pre-season tests on February 21-22.