After seven Grands Prix out of eighteen on the MotoGP calendar, it is time to take stock just before half-time. Maverick Vinales, at this stage of the competition, has achieved three victories, Marc Márquez and Dani Pedrosa, one success each, and Andrea Dovizioso two consecutive achievements. During this time, Valentino Rossi remains with a score without any concrete results. However, last year, he won the two Spanish races in Jerez and Catalonia. Two deadlines which are, this year, his worst results obtained under the checkered flag. Which does not fail to challenge the Doctor.
We thought the debate was closed and the problems with the new Yamaha chassis resolved, but it took the debacle in Catalonia to bring back doubts and frustrations. All exacerbated by Michelin tires which are king depending on the Grands Prix that present themselves. A heavy atmosphere which does not prevent the nine-time winner from keeping a cool head and analyzing: “ it's still strange. The two races I won last year are my worst this year. We tried lots of things, but we could never be fast enough ».
He pursues : " the bike understeers and this is a problem that I highlighted from the first winter tests. In 2016 we were better in Catalonia and Jerez because the bike then put less stress on the tires ". A pitfall, experienced this season, all the more serious as the current Michelin front tire is in the crosshairs of the drivers.
But Vale remains on the theme of “I told you so”… Thus: “ from the first attempts, I said that we had a lot of difficulty filming. I felt it from Valencia. But Maverick came from Suzuki, he was motivated and he was fast. When you have a teammate who drives fast like that, your feeling is bound to be the wrong one. ».
It is true that Casa Particular in Viñales came out of the off-season undefeated, starting the year with a bang, but it is also true that he was the Yamaha rider who suffered the most in Barcelona. As it is obvious to see that the 2016 chassis used at Tech3 behaved much better than their 2017 counterparts, even with complicated Michelin tires to manage.
Having said that, Valentino Rossi does not claim his motorcycle from last year: “ we are going to do tests in Montmélo. We will not return to the 2016 chassis and we will not have Tech3 chassis. But we have ideas to develop and pieces to test. We want to improve our sensations with this bike ».
There are two weeks left before Assen for Yamaha to regain its basics and its lost corner entry force. A situation worrying enough to convince the tuning fork factory to abandon tests in Aragon to work a few more days in Catalonia.
