It was a discreet but usual spectacle that we were able to observe this Wednesday in the MotoGP paddock: the mechanics began to dismantle the motorcycles and, in the large majority, to change the engines.
This was the case for Yamaha yesterday at Le Mans, where we were able to observe on numerous occasions the following traditional ballet: a mechanic comes out of the Yamaha/Petronas boxes with a trolley on which is placed an engine hidden under a blanket. He then walks towards the Yamaha truck, placed perpendicular to those of all the teams, and opens a hatch giving access to an electric winch.
Still covered in its cover, the engine is then equipped with fixing brackets (visible on the left) to be able to be hooked to the winch, then rises gently into the bowels of the trailer before disappearing upstairs.
Even if the procedure is usual, needless to say that the people authorized to get into the trailer can be counted on the fingers of one hand and generally have slanted eyes...
So why are so many engines changed?
A priori, it is impossible to know, but by observing the data provided by Dorna, we see that Valentino Rossi, Maverick Viñales and Franco Morbidelli all received new engines at Jerez, in addition to the two provided at the start of the season. These 3 drivers have factory equipment running at high speed, therefore wearing out relatively quickly, which requires a maximum of 7 engines per season, as permitted by the regulations.
Conversely, Fabio Quartararo only has 5 engines for this year 2019, which requires lowering the maximum revs to make it last a little longer than those of its teammates. And, indeed and logically, Fabio Quartararo is the only Yamaha rider not to have received a new engine at Jerez.
From there to thinking that the engines seen yesterday came from the Yamaha number 20 of El Diablo, there is only one step that it would be tempting to take by thinking that the Iwata firm particularly appreciates the performances of the young French.
This is undoubtedly true, but it does not necessarily imply that this hypothesis of a kind of gift is correct!
On the contrary, this is even false since, after obtaining information, the engines withdrawn were quite simply those having only been used for post-GP tests in Jerez in order to put back the engines counted for the season. And all the Factory teams do the same.
