After the winter tests during which the Movistar Yamaha team was not really able to eradicate the ups and downs which characterized the second half of the 2017 season, Lin Jarvis, the director of the Grand Prix competition, however wanted to recall in front of the camera of the Italian channel Sky that Iwata's troops should not be underestimated.
A few hours before the start of this 2018 season, he therefore intends to warn Honda and Ducati that it will be necessary to count once again on the M1s of the two official riders who are Valentino Rossi et Maverick Vinales to fight for the title.
Lynn Jarvis : “I would say that we are very satisfied with the work done and, from a technical point of view, we are certainly satisfied with the new engine: with the way it delivers its power, with its maximum power and, therefore, with the speed maximum of our M1. After the tests in Malaysia, Thailand and Qatar, we can conclude that the 2018 chassis is better suited to the different circuits. In addition, the drivers' first impression in the wet was clearly positive. We still suffer in conditions of poor grip and, from this point of view, we still need to improve the electronics in these types of conditions. »
The drop in performance from one day to the next, or from one track to the next, what are the causes?
“We are still investigating the causes of performance differences under different environmental conditions. Extreme heat and lack of grip are certainly the main causes of this fluctuating performance. »
It looks like Honda and Ducati are a bit further along at the moment. In what spirit do you start the championship? Confidence, worry or something else?
“Both were very consistent in all the conditions we tested. Dovizioso was fast in all tests, while Marquez was the driver with the best simulated race pace. We know we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we trust the skills of our engineers.
Between Rossi and Vinales who is the most optimistic (or the most concerned)?
“Both will start the championship thinking about one race at a time, and, from this point of view, they will start in Qatar absolutely convinced that they can do well, after the positive result of the last winter tests. »
Indeed, the Yamaha boys have the chance to start the championship in Qatar, on the Losail circuit which has almost always been favorable to them since Yamaha has won five of the last six editions there (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017). ).
With three particularly competitive riders, the firm with three tuning forks should therefore not be out of place, even if the Ducati, not to mention the three victories of Casey Stoner (2007, 2008, 2009), have accumulated second places with Andrea Dovizioso these last three years. As for the Hondas, they are traditionally a little behind despite the victories of Marc Márquez in 2014 and Casey Stoner in 2011.
However, the Losail circuit, whose surface is very abrasive, can sometimes prove to have little grip if the sand brought by the wind gets involved.
We do not wish this for Yamaha which, in Qatar and Argentina, will be keen to strengthen its confidence and refine its settings before tackling the round which, par excellence, looks like a scarecrow in the eyes of all of Marc's competitors Mark: Austin!
