Yamaha and the tests… Rossi details this sensitive theme of the MotoGP project for the Iwata brand. So much so that its titular pilots regret its seriousness. Valentino Rossi, from the height of his extensive experience within the manufacturer with three tuning forks, explains the fundamental weaknesses. Who may not be where we think they are...
Yamaha won seven victories out of fourteen races contested in 2020 in MotoGP, and yet, the brand ends with regrets and fears for 2021. Indeed, six achievements are due to the Petronas satellite team. Then, there is this weakness of the valves in his engine which has already earned him a punishment causing him to lose his points and his chances in the manufacturers' standings. Finally, there is also a traction problem that is truly debilitating for its drivers.
Overall, and with an in-line four-cylinder engine with a depressing top speed, the men of Yamaha have seen Suzuki arrive, join them, then overtake them with a mechanism built according to the same architecture. Joan mir is today the new World Champion with the GSX-RR.
So, what’s next for us? Valentino Rossi don't hide it: Yamaha has reason to worry. And the problem is not new: “ 2016 and 2017 were a crucial period for Yamaha and M1 » remembers the Doctor. “ Because that's where we started having problems. Our bike was very competitive until 2016 ».
From there, the champion of Tavullia regrets the lack of listening to Japanese leaders, the absence of a link between Japan and Europe. Role that Lynn Jarvis should play, as is happening at Suzuki with Davide Brivio... " You could have won the races and the world championship. But from then on we had difficulties. I don't know how much of it is Yamaha's fault or if other manufacturers have improved ».
But what is certain is that you have to work upstream and therefore have a good test structure. In the end of season thanks, KTM praised the work of Pedrosa, Suzuki Guintoli and at Ducati we congratulate Pirro for a long time. As for Honda, Bradl has shown to be quite rapid in its replacement of Marc Marquez. And Yamaha ?
Rossi points out: a test pilot is good, but a program is better
Valentino Rossi respond : " there is a fundamental problem. Before 2020, every other manufacturer had a very active test team that was on the road in Europe, with European riders: Pirro, Bradl, Pedrosa... The problem was that Yamaha just didn't have a team like that . They were racing in Japan with Japanese drivers. But that's not the biggest problem. The biggest problem is that in Japan they ride on tracks, and I've been there, that have nothing to do with European tracks. But we have to ride with the tires that we have on the tracks where we also race “, declared the winner of 115 Grands Prix.
« We put a lot of pressure to get this test team, and then Lorenzo was signed », Recalls the nine-time world champion. “ The problem was that Lorenzo had a day in Malaysia. Then Covid-19 arrived and everything stopped. And after that, after eight months, he was only in Portimão. So Lorenzo didn't really get to work »Regrets Red.
For the 41-year-old Italian, one thing is clear: “ The first thing is that Yamaha needs a serious test team in Europe next year. I would have liked to see Dovizioso as a test driver, who is very fast, but also very sensitive and has a lot of experience. But Crutchlow is also someone who ran until this year. If he is motivated and wants to, he can push the bike to the limit ».
More Red adds: “ more than the test pilot, there needs to be a serious program for the test team ". And in fact, before Jorge Lorenzo, he saw Jonas Folger who had not been in much demand during his contract, and when no health crisis had put the world into confinement. It will be recalled that the field leader of the test team is a Galbraith who was the former chief engineer of Red. The latter is therefore very well informed about his activity…
