Recent news from Yamaha MotoGP was articulated between two axes, the renewal of fabio quartararo for two additional seasons for the period 2025-2026, and the presentation of a new YZR-M1 during the test day in Jerez. And the two events are undoubtedly linked…
To remember The Devil while it has fallen behind its adversaries, the Iwata firm probably had to pull out all the stops, both financially and technically, and if the first area hardly interests us (in any case the figures published by the press are in the vast majority of cases completely false), the technical side allows at least to visually note some progress of the three tuning forks...
Among the arguments presented by Yamaha were the recruitment of several key figures, starting with Luca Marmorini and his son, from 2022 to take care of the engine, Marco Nicotra at the end of last season, ex-Ducati now in charge of aerodynamics for the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team, then Massimo Bartolini at the start of the season, ex-Ducati also with all the secrets of the Desmosedici GP24, now taking on the role of technical director, alongside project manager Kazuhiro Masuda, both reporting to Takahiro Sumi, general director of the motorcycle sport department.
The message sent to the French pilot was therefore clear,
“Yamaha is putting in the resources”, financial and human, to make the most of the concessions enjoyed by Japanese manufacturers in order to return to the forefront.
A first plan which is not light years away, but only a few tenths of a second per lap, and which another initiative should make it possible to accelerate: the contract signed with Dallara last summer.
Dallas, What is that ?
For the oldest, these are small boats that distinguished themselves in hill climbs in the 70s, but after working for Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati,
Giampolo Dallara was able to grow his small business to F1, but above all hit the jackpot by becoming the sole supplier of IndyCar from 2007 to the present day.
This change in dimensions allowed the company located near Parma to further strengthen its skills in the field of composites and to have its own wind tunnel, of generous size.
Today, and since last summer, it is Dallara which is participating in the aerodynamic development of the M1, until now much less loaded than its competitors, largely due to an engine that is also less powerful.
But the recent progress made on the 4-cylinder in-line makes it possible to put more downforce on the M1, and what the fairing which was tested at Jerez shows us what the racing machine could be as soon as the engine developments take place. will allow, undoubtedly in the second part of the season.
What did we see?
Schematically, Dallara has taken the Aprilia wing at the front, but in a version with three planes instead of two.
For the sides, it seems that we were inspired by the KTM fairing seen during winter tests, with side fins extending into well-channeled side support surfaces, all decorated with classic Downwash Ducts. A great step forward for the M1, even if we saw that the Austrian firm had already taken a step forward since this version !
Everything is going very quickly in MotoGP, and the delay will therefore take a long time to catch up, but for the moment Yamaha is doing much better than Honda, despite a very discreet testing program: there is no doubt that the recruitment of Europeans, in fact of Italians in key positions will allow much faster development than the decisions taken in Tokyo...
Appointment is made in a few months.
Photo credit: MotoGP.com / Michelin /Dallara
