At Yamaha, the seasons follow one another and unfortunately have been the same for three years now. After six Grands Prix in 2019, the Iwata firm is in the company of Aprilia and KTM, the group which has not yet won a single victory. There are certainly still thirteen Grands Prix remaining, including that of Catalonia this weekend, but listening to Massimo Meregalli who represents the brand in tune, there are no great hopes to be entertained...
The start of the campaign was nevertheless encouraging for Yamaha. “ We don't have a victory, but we got two second places with Valentino in Argentina and in Austin. And also a pole in Qatar then a podium in Jerez with Maverick " announcement Meregalli. But at Mugello, a track where a Yamaha has always been on the podium, it was a sixth place as the best result which was brought back: “ On Sunday, temperatures increased and the grip of the asphalt decreased. Our advantage in the corners has therefore been reduced. To be fast in racing we need to have grip. Friday and Saturday, Viñales, Morbidelli and Quartararo were strong in the first three sectors then lost in the last ».
A description that brings Massimo Meregalli to go into detail about Yamaha's delicate situation: “ we have managed to improve, or even solve, the problem of tire durability. Unfortunately, at the expense of maximum engine power, the Ducati had already escaped at Le Mans coming out of the last corner and Mugello was even worse. Sometimes we waste a lot of time improving ourselves in other areas. We are thinking about solutions to be less penalized in a straight line, there are positive signs. Two years ago we had a lot of problems, now we have managed to find a basis to work from, we no longer have a different bike from one Grand Prix to the next. We also have a development program ».
He admits : " Honda and Ducati have a very solid base, we had to find it, or even discover it. Three months is not enough to change a motorcycle, otherwise you risk losing reliability. With the current engine we solved the problem of engine braking and tire wear, but we had to give up some horsepower.” At Yamaha, we therefore accommodate the rest while waiting for better days. “During post-race testing in Brno, then in August in Misano, we will test a prototype of the 2020 bike, including the engine. The goal is to find more power, without penalizing driving ».
To make people understand the crisis situation experienced by its troops, Meregalli dares a surprising parallel: “ even Ducati, after losing to Stoner, took a few years to regain its competitiveness. First of all, I only think about being able to find the solutions we are looking for as quickly as possible. Valentino in the box is still the same: focused and eager to improve the bike, I haven't seen any changes ». Precisely, unlike Stoner, the Doctor is still there. So the question of how Yamaha got there is still relevant today!
A mystery which remains unsolved and which will make this 2019 season a full-scale testing session. Because Meregalli admits on GPOne: there is already not much to hope for this year: “ we leave for Catalonia knowing that it will be another difficult circuit for us, because of the long straight and the low power of our engine. Assen and the Sachsenring will be more favorable, but I will not go to the circuit feeling defeated. I know that after the Mugello results I would like to see immediate progress, but nothing can be done in a week. For us these will be important tests that will prepare us for the important test in Brno ". Fortunately for Yamaha, the exploits of fabio quartararo in a Petronas satellite team that puts their heart into the work brings a little consolation…
