It was feared in 2022 and it is confirmed in 2023, the Yamaha project in MotoGP is technically at a crossroads. So much so that a more powerful engine revised and corrected by Luca Marmorini's team was not enough to relaunch the M1 at the top of the table. Worse, this new character of the mechanics upsets other parameters which must also be reviewed. But, in the meantime, this given power so demanded by Fabio Quartararo does more harm than good. The latter recognizes this and declared at Le Mans that he would now stick to a technical basis known since 2021, but with the old engine. Is it compatible? Lin Jarvis doubts it.
At Yamaha , we seem to have entered the infernal spiral aspiring towards the abyss that experienced Honda, who still hasn't recovered. We will remember the words of fabio quartararo at the French Grand Prix: “ It's very frustrating, we're really pushing the limits. I'm working harder than ever, but we're so far away. We are really in a very complicated situation ". On motorsport total, he commented: “ new exhaust didn't work, new chassis didn't work, aerodynamics didn't work, electronics didn't work ". An inventory which leads to this assessment: “ the new parts were useless. Only one setting we tried with Öhlins was a little better. We tried a lot of things and nothing worked well. But we have to work and find a solution as soon as possible ».
In the meantime, there is this ersatz: “ we tried a lot on the bike, but it's better if we use the base from two years ago. We have tried thousands of settings since the start of the season. Now we have decided to roll with the 2021 set ". And the Frenchman finishes: “ whatever problems we encounter, I have to adapt. We have more power, but the bike is super aggressive ».
Lin Jarvis: “ It's not like it's a hopeless situation, but it's pretty tough right now »
A final mention which brings us to the analysis of Lin Jarvis on the state of his troops. An expertise which, moreover, can raise doubts about the benefits of a return to a 2021 base made with the old engine. Because the Englishman leaves on this certainty distilled on the microphone of ServusTV and relayed by motorsport magazine : " we see areas where we are behind our competitors. Especially since we have improved our engine, we see the weaknesses in the development of our Yamaha in other areas ».
« These are difficult times for us. Racing is cyclical, you have ups and downs. Don't forget that we won the world championship two years ago. Last year we were second. So it's not like it's a hopeless situation, but it's pretty tough right now » analyzes the Englishman.
« We need to resolve these issues as soon as possible. But it's not something you can do in a week or two » he also regrets and he is developing this road map which he hopes to share with the Iwata factory: “ we need a good plan, we need to invest and fight our way out ". Then he concludes: « I have confidence in our future, but we have to deal with this phase now. We just have to try to get the maximum we can achieve at every opportunity ».
