Andrea Dovizioso hoped that with the discovery of the new Yamaha for this 2022 season, these sad five Grands Prix of adaptation with its previous model would be able to be put away in the aisle of bad memories. But he fell from a height. After two days of testing at Sepang, he's not even in the top 20. He gives a little more than a full second to Fabio Quartararo equipped with the same M1 as him. He is certainly ahead of Morbidelli, 24th, in a situation even more critical than his own. But this is not likely to console him. On the other hand, he understood one thing: you only have to drive like the French World Champion to hope for anything with this opus. Now, he already admits, he won't succeed...
Big and deep questions will have to be asked Yamaha on the evening of the two days of testing for the 2022 MotoGP season carried out in Sepang. Thus, the brand did not satisfy the demands of its leader fabio quartararo who has taken note of it and who will draw the consequences. But what's more, the other three M1s are lagging behind, at the back of the pack, not even making the top 20. And listen Dovizioso, if the reigning World Champion decided to leave the scene, it would be a real disaster. Because he is the only one to operate this motorcycle from the Iwata workshops. So much so that its position would be almost even more dominant at Yamaha than a Marc Marquez from the time of his splendor at Honda.
As such, the speech of the pilot of 35 years old, three-time world vice-champion with Ducati and who until recently was proclaiming to anyone who would listen that he would be taken into account in the title race this year is edifying: “ I can't be satisfied with the speed and rhythm », admitted the RNF Yamaha rider after the test of Sepang. " I think that for the moment there is only Fabio's way of riding this Yamaha. He showed it last year, but also during these two days of testing. If you don't use the bike like him, it's very difficult to be fast. You have to ride this way to be competitive. Because there are very good aspects of the bike that you have to use like him, like on the brakes and in the middle of the corner. The bike isn't that good coming out of corners, so you can't rely on that to be fast. It's hard to be fast like Fabio does ».
Incidentally, it is a real tribute that the oldest Italian on the board pays to the Frenchman of 22 years : " I tried to study the data “, continued Dovi. “ But it is very difficult to copy other drivers. You can improve, you can analyze and understand, you must do it. But it's just a matter of understanding, copying doesn't work. You can only improve a little in areas where the other driver is better. But overall, you have to try to find your way. But it seems – in my opinion – that there is only one way at the moment. That's why it's taking me time, I still don't feel good “, he admits.
Andrea Dovizioso tells us all about what makes Fabio Quartararo essential to Yamaha
But what makes Quarterly best ? “ He brakes very well and very late, makes a lot of speed in the middle of a curve and lets the bike spin », analyzes the rookie's teammate Darryn binder. " He doesn't first try to use the grip of the rear wheel to accelerate. Instead, he tries to pass the time on the brakes and mid-corner, and he is very good at it ».
Quarterly is the only pilot Yamaha in the top 20 combined Sepang Test timesheets, while Dovizioso was only 22nd on one of his favorite circuits. “ In today's MotoGP, everyone is very competitive, it's no longer like before where your qualities allowed you to be more efficient on one track than another. “, said the veteran. “ Now everyone is very close, everyone is very strong. If you can't properly use the package you have, you fall behind very quickly ».
With this hindsight, we realize that the latest performances of Valentino Rossi weren't so bad after all... And when Dovizioso continues his assessment, the tone almost takes on the air of a farewell: “ I was hoping to be further along in the process of adapting to the bike. As I ride it more and more, after last year's five races and now two days of testing, it becomes more and more clear that you have to ride a certain way and that's it. Because the motorcycle has very special characteristics. From my point of view, it remains a great bike in terms of chassis, braking and cornering. But there are other aspects where we have great difficulties. So if you don't drive in this specific way, like Fabio does, everything gets a little more complicated », sighs Dovi.
MotoGP Sepang Tests: J2 times
Credit classification motogp.com
