MotoGP, Yamaha: riders dissatisfied following the tests, is it time to worry?

New season, same old problems. The Sepang and Mandalika tests have shone a spotlight on the negatives, with the M1’s limitations appearing more serious at a time when the other manufacturers have taken clear steps forward. From the engine to tyre management after just a few laps, the bike has failed to satisfy the riders, who continue to hope for updates.

We are talking about the very same bike that won the 2021 title and, in fact, at least in terms of performance, Quartararo looked as fast as ever during both tests. And yet, the Frenchman continues to underline that the bike has not improved in the areas he requires, not least the engine. And this is contrary to the Honda, Suzuki, Aprilia and Ducati of course, all of which have made visible progress.

Quartararo quick but unhappy

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In the Yamaha camp, there is more than one cause for alarm, with only Fabio Quartararo appearing competitive over both the flying lap and race distance, while all the other M1s finished outside of the top twenty in Malaysia. Only on the final day at Mandalika did the pace pick up. All the riders have complained about the performance of the bike with used tyres, as well as an engine that is not in line with that of the competition. Essentially, it’s looking likely to be a complicated season start for the Iwata manufacturer as it deals with many of the same problems as last year, and with no important evolutions in the pipeline. And this is one of the reasons why Fabio Quartararo is displeased, the rider having hoped that Yamaha would do more to improve a bike that, in 2021, achieved its last win at the Silverstone GP, in August.

In terms of speed, the world champion should be satisfied, in that he was one of the quickest during a race simulation. There doesn’t seem to be much potential to extract from the bike though, or at least not in the French rider’s opinion. Despite this, Fabio appears ready for the Qatar race, where he will almost certainly fight for the podium.

And the situation is no better on the other side of the garage, although Franco Morbidelli’s current difficulties have more to do with the fact he needs to find better feeling with the M1. The Academy rider seems more cautiously optimistic than his team-mate, but the problems highlighted are more or less the same. The fifth fastest time in the combined standings on day 3 at Mandalika was enough for the 2020 runner-up as he continues to return to his former speed and physical fitness, but we won’t understand his real level until a few races in.

The Frenchman shows strong pace, but is this down to the track?

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Despite the issues outlined above, the stopwatch implies that the Yamaha is particularly fast in the hands of the Frenchman, the rider having set the second fastest time (1'31"074) at Mandalika, just 0.014 of a second from Espargaró. If we analyse his pace, the world champion performed the best over race distance, demonstrating significant improvement with respect to the simulation he carried out during the first Sepang test (where he only ducked under 1’59 on three occasions, compared to seven times for Rins, five for Viñales and four for Bastianini, Aleix Espargaró and Mir). If we consider a distance of fifteen laps, Quartararo was the quickest of all, maintaining an average of 1’31.709. The Frenchman was the most consistent in terms of pace, putting together ten consecutive laps in the 1’31s, unlike the other riders who slowed after a few laps, dropping to 1’32. In this sense, Morbidelli’s data should also be encouraging for Yamaha, the Italian also among the quickest in terms of pace. So if the stopwatch is so benevolent over both the flying lap and race distance, why does Quartararo seem so worried about the performance of the M1?

The bike’s solid performance may, in part, have to do with the track. Mandalika has a layout that suits the M1, with its flowing line, limited hard braking points, similarly limited acceleration from low speeds, and a short straight. A layout that is in fact all about rideability, high-speed turns and corner speed, which has always been a strength of the M1. This, as well as the changes of direction, another area in which the Japanese bike excels. Hence, the Indonesian track may have masked the M1’s limitations, which may re-emerge at tracks that require more engine. Once again, the Yamaha’s top speed is among the lowest, even compared to Aprilia - which was clearly not among the best last season – and Suzuki, which mounts an inline four like the Yamaha. The extra horsepower that Quartararo is looking for are still not there, and so last year’s gap remains an issue. A gap that, for now, is compensated by a high-level frame and chassis, which are highlighted by the Frenchman’s clean riding style.

Complicated situation also for Andrea Dovizioso

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And things are no better for the WithU team. Leaving aside Darryn Binder for now (it’s too soon to draw any conclusions about the South African rookie), Andrea Dovizioso’s words and performance tell of a similar situation. As the Italian himself admits, the best way to ride the M1 is to do as Quartararo does, which means the first races will see the rider focus on adapting to the bike, with a riding style that is closer to that of the Frenchman. Dovizioso’s biggest problems have to do with his race pace, the Italian having lapped 1.5 seconds slower than the world champion. As for the flying lap, Mandalika brought significant improvement compared to Sepang, the Italian closing 0.830 from the first-placed rider. Dovi must continue to work on his riding style then, with the aim of finding the right speed while maintaining and managing the tyres, something that, for now, only Quartararo is able to exploit on the M1.

Added to all this is the fact that there are unlikely to be any technical updates at the next tests either. In this sense, there is a clear difference between Yamaha and the other manufacturers. Honda has made a lot of changes and introduced new components with the aim of being competitive with all its riders, Suzuki has proved to be perhaps the strongest in terms of race pace, without forgetting Ducati and Aprilia. The Borgo Panigale manufacturer has shown to be the most competitive, while Aprilia looks to be the one that has improved the most over the winter. Basically, along with KTM, Yamaha appears to be the manufacturer most in difficulty following the winter tests. Only time will tell, but it looks as if Quartararo and Yamaha might be in for an uphill climb as they set out to defend the title.

Translated by Heather Watson

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