Fabio Quartararo’s home Grand Prix in Le Mans was supposed to be a celebration – one that started with pole position and the roar of over 120,000 French fans.
Instead, it ended in a crash, controversy, and a penalty that has left the Yamaha rider frustrated not just with race officials, but with how the incident was handled trackside.
The drama unfolded on Sunday when Quartararo crashed out of the flag-to-flag race while leading in the early laps.
QUARTARARO AND @bradbinder_33 CRASH 💥#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/fABowULo22
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 11, 2025
But the real sting came after the race, when MotoGP stewards sanctioned him for “irresponsible behaviour” towards the marshals.
The punishment? A €2,000 fine and exclusion from the first ten minutes of Friday practice at Silverstone.
Quartararo, however, insists he’s been unfairly singled out – and that the real issue lies with the marshals’ actions.
“My machine was not damaged,” he explained. “I picked it up myself. But the marshals didn’t support me properly, they didn’t push me – so I couldn’t restart the bike.”
The crash and failed restart weren’t fully visible on TV, leading to initial uncertainty about the bike’s condition.
But Quartararo is adamant the bike could’ve continued, had he received the right assistance.
“No, nothing was broken. I lifted the bike, but the marshal didn’t push me. So I couldn’t restart.”
With the Yamaha still functional and a second bike waiting in the garage, a proper shove might’ve seen him rejoin the race.
Instead, the moment spiraled into a heated exchange with the track marshals – one that race control later deemed sanction-worthy.
“For me, it wasn’t stupid what I did. Many riders have done the same in the past and weren’t penalised.”
What irks Quartararo most is what he perceives as inconsistency. He believes he’s being made an example of, and not for the first time.
“Then suddenly, in my case, it’s a penalty,” he said. “I understand if they want to set an example, but it’s strange that I’m always the first one punished.”
His main grievance, though, remains the chaotic assistance he received from marshals at the scene.
“I told race direction: if the marshals had pushed me properly, I could’ve restarted the bike.” Instead, the moment became a comedy of errors.
“One was holding the bike, one was pushing—you can’t start a MotoGP bike like that. You need a strong, targeted push.”
Despite his anger, Quartararo admits the marshals faced a stressful situation. But he insists their role carries responsibility too.
“If you want to help, do it properly. Either do it right, or don’t help at all.”
The penalty stems from Article 1.21.2 of the FIM regulations, which covers responsible conduct on and off the track.
Officials say Quartararo’s behaviour violated marshals’ instructions and created a potential safety risk.
Por este berrinche hacía los oficiales de pista tras caer cuando iba 2o, Fabio Quartararo ha sido multado con €2.000 y penalizado con 10 minutos de suspensión en la primera práctica de la siguiente fecha que será en Silverstone.pic.twitter.com/M3u31FEzrG
— 🏁「 Alerta Racing 」🏁 (@AlertaRacing) May 11, 2025
Looking ahead to Silverstone, the 26-year-old hopes for more consistency—from both stewards and marshals.
“If everyone is treated the same, I can accept it. But you have to look at the whole situation, not just what’s on paper.”
Still, not all was negative in Le Mans. Quartararo was clearly encouraged by his raw pace throughout the weekend.
After taking pole and finishing fourth in the sprint, he briefly led the main race before the crash ended his Sunday.
Silverstone, though, brings new challenges. The British circuit is fast, flowing, and expected to deliver unpredictable conditions.
“I don’t know [if another pole is possible],” he said. “Compared to Jerez and Le Mans, it’s a completely different track. The grip levels will decide where we stand.”
Quartararo remains optimistic. A recent private test in Misano gave Yamaha valuable data – despite rain limiting the first day’s running.
“We tested new aero and electronics settings, but the focus was on aerodynamics,” he revealed. “We also tried different chassis setups.”
The current-spec engine, introduced at Jerez, is helping, albeit in small steps.
“We already felt the advantages in Le Mans – it’s a small step compared to what we’re still missing,” Quartararo admitted. “The new aero is slightly bigger and better in some areas. But compared to Ducati, our aero is very limited.”
He added with a grin: “You can imagine how strong their engine must be – we’re still behind. Hopefully, we’ll get another engine update soon. It won’t be a V4, but another inline-four.”
