Yamaha continues with the difficult task in this MotoGP preseason. This Wednesday, Fabio Quartararo even recorded the fastest top speed, but it is in the fast lap that the weak point lies, finishing 11th in the time table.
The Frenchman said: ‘It’s not the way we have to be in first. I think speed is also in the braking reference. I’m not saying the bike is slow – the bike is very, very fast. But the braking reference also makes the speed a little strange. But it’s already quite positive to have a fast bike. But we still have to improve our fast lap – we lack a lot in one lap and this is our biggest problem right now. Even though today we tried many things on the bike and in the end when I mounted the two tires personally I was trying various things inside. It was a bit strange, but we still lack a lot‘.
And according to Quartararo, at the moment the origin of the gaps is still unknown: ‘We don’t know. The fast lap, one lap, is where we lack and we don’t know exactly where. It is clear that our bike is still shaking a lot on the exit of the corners and we have to improve this. We have to work hard to see if tomorrow we can find something extra‘.
When asked if solutions have been found, El Diablo replied: ‘Not yet. We tried several things, but we haven’t found something good. So hopefully they come up with several ideas tomorrow and especially in Qatar. That way we can try, but we have to find a solution and especially in the rear grip is where we lack a little‘.
After three days of shakedown and two days of testing, Quartararo sees Yamaha closer to the opposition? ‘Not yet. We are not close at this moment. Hopefully soon, I think we still have to work a lot and hopefully we can take a step tomorrow and in the Qatar test. But we are not really close to the others at this moment – especially in one lap‘.
