Is Fabio Quartararo the first truly elite MotoGP rider to be trapped in the series' midfield for as long as he has been?
Valentin Khorounzhiy discusses this with Simon Patterson on the latest edition of The Race MotoGP Podcast - which is also available in video form - ahead of Quartararo's home race at Le Mans that comes on the heels of a best-in-years weekend at Jerez.
The show also delves into Quartararo's decision to stay put at Yamaha for 2025, the chances of him doing so again in 2027 - and the question of whether his lack of championship opportunities as he enters his theoretical prime as a rider, now 26, is weighing on him.
Finally, Val and Simon talk about the rest of Yamaha's line-up, discussing whether Jack Miller should count on a 2026 extension, whether Alex Rins's disappointing-so-far Yamaha tenure is likely to improve, and whether it would make sense for Yamaha to try to bring in Toprak Razgatlioglu.
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