Today, during this IRTA test in Barcelona-Catalunya, the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team had each of its two riders try a different new chassis.
Tomorrow, during a private test, Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales will exchange their new chassis in order to confirm, or not, each other's analysis.
For the moment, Valentino Rossi is satisfied with the model tested. Maverick Vinales a little less.
At the end of the day, Valentino Rossi gave a very brief press conference, the entirety of which we report here.
What difference did you notice with the new chassis tested today?
“I always have problems with this bike turning, entering corners, and I'm never really 100% comfortable. So today we had a different chassis, a little bit, because Yamaha works a lot in this area. He is better. I like it and prefer it. I prefer the bike like this, because it is easier and more suited to my riding style. There are still a few other issues like the stress on the rear tire which is quite significant on a track like this. So we have to continue and try to progress. Tomorrow will be another day. We have a few other things here to try, and so we hope to keep it that way.
Did Jonas Folger use your chassis today to confirm your analysis?
" Today ? No, I do not think so. But I do not know. “Boo.” I'm not sure and I don't know. »
Does the new chassis have more or less the character of the 2016 one?
“In my opinion, the bike runs a little better. I can get into the corner faster. I prefer it because you can be more specific and it's also more fun. »
Have you tried the front symmetrical tire? (editor's note: medium tire, same profile, to see if it will be used in Misano)
" No. Tomorrow. Today it was just the rear tire. »
Maverick Vinales was fast in this test, so do you think there may be a divide in the evolution of the 2017 bikes?
“You know, in the end Maverick was fast, Maverick still likes (the current chassis), Maverick is the guy with the most points, so I have to talk more about myself. I'm the product of another story, Maverick has no past history with Yamaha, he comes from Suzuki and he rides this, because he thinks it's a Yamaha. But for me, who knows the evolution of the bike better, I think that with the 2017 version we lost something. Yesterday he also had problems, but I think he can go fast anyway. »
Do you think that not having done private tests here before the race handicapped you?
“Yes, it’s a problem. Not everything comes from there, but not having done tests is a problem. Yes. »
