The Sepang tests have ended and Fabio Quartararo continues to struggle. Despite improvements, having ridden in 1m57.525s on this last day, he still feels many gaps in the Yamaha YZR-M1.
The Frenchman told the press: ‘Basically it’s more or less the same. I was happy when I did 1m57.5s, but it’s the limit. We find the limit very easily because I did four laps – 1m57.5s, 1m57.6s, 1m57.5s, 1m57.6s. There’s not really one lap that is completely better than the other and this is a bit hard to understand. I know where we need to improve, but how is the question‘.
Despite everything, Quartararo sees progress in the engine and aerodynamics, with the current challenge being to understand how to make the bike work optimally: ‘This is a step. The top speed is much better, the engine feels better, but how we are using it is still difficult. The bike is still very aggressive in terms of torque. We have better aerodynamics and a better engine, that’s for sure. But we still need time to understand how it’s working, how we can make it work better, and how to find this mechanical grip that we’ve been missing since 2019‘.
Asked whether the solution lies in electronics or mechanical components, #20 replied: ‘Both. I think both are the solution to find to be in the top six – maybe not the top six, but between fourth and eighth. This is what we have to find right now and I think it’s very important for us to find. Because in terms of pace, we are fast like last year. We’re not in the top three, but we have a good chance. But if we start from 11th or 12th, you stay there no matter your pace. And that’s why we’re really trying to find a solution in grip to improve‘.
