The Yamaha team manager spoke with GP One about Yamaha's results this season, Valentino Rossi, Maverick Viñales and the possibility of certain improvements.
After a complicated start to the season, Yamaha seems to be finding solutions little by little, and was able to start the summer break with a double at the Sachsenring, enough to make Maio Meregalli, the team manager, happy: “If we look at the Championship, we can be satisfied, even if we haven't won yet and we haven't managed to be fast on a regular basis. However, we have always worked hard, even in difficult situations. I am thinking, for example, of our double podium at the Sachsenring, a track which is historically not favorable to the Yamaha. This result is the result of our efforts to optimize everything we have. A few small improvements could make a big difference, but I also think that with the 250 points left to distribute, anything is possible. Succeeding in putting a little pressure on Márquez would help us. »
With 46 and 56 points behind Marc Márquez, Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales are now the Spaniard's main opponents for the title. Although neither has won yet, both have the potential to do so in the second half of the season, although each will be different for Meregalli.
On the one hand, the oldest in the category has five podiums this season, and is working hard: “Valentino’s results are the fruit of his desire to do well, his passion and his work. One of his merits is to get the most out of the people who work alongside him. At Sachsenring he studied Folger's data from last year because that is his working method. He always seeks to confront other Yamaha riders, whether Maverick or Johann, in order to understand where they are faster and try to be faster too. It is all these details that allow him to obtain certain results. »
On the other hand, one of the youngest in MotoGP often showed signs of annoyance and suffered greatly from his lack of competitiveness at the start of the race. With two podiums in the last two races, he seems to have finally returned to the forefront: “It's normal for such a young boy to sometimes not be able to stay calm and not have the patience to deal with difficult times. At first we didn't understand what was causing the problems he was having during the first laps of the race, but over time we figured it out. We tested it with a racing setup and found a solution. Three races ago, Maverick couldn't get a good pace until five or six laps, but now he's fast from the start of the race. It is the result of good teamwork. Maverick is a very strong driver when in the right conditions. It's up to us to give them to him. »
Concerning new advances on the bike this season, the team manager is cautious: “The pilots, however, continue to complain about certain things, which have been recurring for a year, but it is never easy to resolve certain problems. It takes time. We should receive a small improvement in Brno, but it will not be a revolution. I know Yamaha well and the engineers prefer to be sure of every progress before using it in a Grand Prix. We will only be able to use them if they are small, insignificant improvements, or if they have already been tested in Japan. »
