What about Yamaha's situation at the dawn of this 2023 MotoGP season, which we can expect to be unlike any other in the history of Grands Prix? The three days of Sepang testing, which followed the other three days dedicated to the Shakedown with the test drivers on the same track, turned into “ disaster », according to the term used by Fabio Quartararo, when it was necessary to put on new tires to chase the time. But until then, everything was not going so bad, and all the better since the top speed so claimed by the same Frenchman was there. SO ? So, the 2021 World Champion will get closer to his teammate Franco Morbidelli.
We will also remember that for the first time in ages in the premier category of the Grands Prix, Yamaha will only be able to count on its two official machines. Even Honda, yet in a worse technical situation than their compatriots from Iwata, managed to keep their ally LCR. Razlan Razali, who would have liked to be more than a client for the coat of arms with three tuning forks, was not taken into consideration, and Aprilia didn't ask for so much to succeed him.
When this loss was recorded, Fabio Quartararo was not offended, affirming that the structure which had given him his chance under the Petronas colors was ultimately not useful since it had become RNF. But carrying the weight of the M1's development alone may no longer be so obvious.
Fabio Quartararo: “ I hope we both get the same feedback to have a really good base for the season«
We thus read these words of the Frenchman on motorcyclesports : " I think the important thing is to have feedback from both drivers ". Then he adds: “ I haven't spoken to Franco Morbidelli yet, but I think in some areas we felt improvements compared to what we tested together, it was better. […]. I hope we both get the same feedback to have a really good base for the season ».
Now go to Portimao, the March 11 and 12 for the last test before the opening of the season 24 at 26 March in a Portuguese Grand Prix which will take place on the same site. The first race sprint will also take place in a new format which will reveal its charms. The question now is no longer whether the M1 can go fast in a straight line. It must also be capable of doing just one lap with new tires to properly qualify for two races... To get out of this delicate situation, fabio quartararo has already put forward a path: our aerodynamics are lighter. It would therefore be important to find more power to apply more downforce"
