Three years ago, Fabio Quartararo lost a potential victory in the Spanish Grand Prix due to compartment syndrome, a condition that causes swelling of the muscles and restricts blood flow. Despite undergoing surgery, the problem resurfaced for Quartararo and his teammate Alex Rins in Jerez, albeit to a lesser extent. Both riders blamed the Yamaha bike for their struggles. Quartararo managed to secure a place on the podium in a chaotic race, but a post-race penalty wiped out his achievement. In the main race, Quartararo finished 15th, while Rins came in 13th, with both riders citing compartment syndrome as a hindrance. They expressed frustration with the lack of competitiveness of the Yamaha and the difficulty in maneuvering the bike. Quartararo mentioned that compartment syndrome has been a recurring issue throughout the season, while Rins revealed that he has been dealing with it since the first race in Qatar. Despite their efforts to compensate for the bike’s deficiencies, both riders found it challenging to perform at their best. Quartararo acknowledged that the changes made to the bike before the race may have worsened his arm problem. Overall, both riders agreed that the Yamaha’s cornering capabilities were a significant issue that needed to be addressed. After the race, they took part in a day of testing to try out new components and settings, but the cornering issue remained unresolved.
