It’s a Valentino Rossi delighted but also exhausted who finished with three days of testing on the route of Sepang. A MotoGP off-season meeting which revealed a tight field to say the least with eleven riders combined in just four tenths. Every detail will count this season and we must not relax. In the Yamaha clan, we are confident, starting with the Doctor who was happy with the developments and who had a word on the Tech3 riders.
Valentino Rossi was never able to get the best time during the three days spent at Sepang and he was also not able to get his new teammate Maverick Vinales. However, this return to Malaysia was anything but a failure. On the contrary, there is reason to be satisfied, except perhaps physical preparation to be optimized: “ we got off to a good start. I'm already looking forward to going to Phillip Island to see what it's going to be like on another route. There are still things to work on and also on my side because I am not in the best of my physical condition ».
A detail that was far from being far away in the tropical torpor of Malaysia. He pursues : " Overall, the times were not exceptional and I am sixth overall over the three days. But I'm only a few tenths behind Maverick's crazy time. We are all very close and this year will be a tough battle. And I will be ».
« Drivers aren't just fast on one lap. They all have a good rhythm too.” And Vale was able to see it by following… Johann zarco : " both Tech3 drivers did an excellent job. They drive very well. I followed Zarco and he did a good job. I followed it and it runs very well ».
A compliment that he also attributes to Yamaha: “ I had good feelings with the new frame. We made some changes which also went in the right direction. We found some interesting things. In fact all the new parts brought by Yamaha are good. The new fairing doesn't make a huge difference but I like it. On the Michelin side, there is good and bad. Today I started a race simulation with soft tires which turned out to be too soft. I quit after seven laps ».
See you now on February 15 in Australia for new tests until the 17th.
