2024 will be a crucial year for Fabio Quartararo, whose contract with Yamaha is expiring and, if the latter does not prove to be up to par with the Frenchman, then the possibility of seeing him leave becomes increasingly real. However, the Iwata manufacturer has already been able to test the M1 with which he will try to convince El Diablo to renew and the first impressions seem good.
In the Malaysian afternoon (Italian morning), Yamaha officially presented the colors for 2024, even if Quartararo already had the opportunity to take to the track during the shakedown. The concessions enjoyed by the three tuning forks team are aimed at improving in order to return to the top and it seems that progress has been made, according to what the 2021 world champion explains.
On the eve of the Sepang collective tests, Quartararo is ready to return to the track to continue the work started in the shakedown, of which he offers his sensations: “I'm sure the engine is better, but I think we'll have to work a lot on the electronics to improve the character of the engine. It's still very aggressive, we have the potential but we don't use it. With electronics we are a bit far away, not only in the development of the engine. We need to find the best electronics for this engine and use it on the bike.”
The rain hit the Sepang track every afternoon, affecting the work of the teams involved in the shakedown and complicating things for Yamaha too: “Unfortunately we didn't make the most of them, but we've already done 80 laps which is a lot. We saw the direction a bit, in the first day we focused on trying new things. I didn't feel better, but I didn't feel worse either. On the second day we struggled a little more with some components of the bike, but I think we've already done some great tests in these two days.”
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“At the moment I don't really feel better,” explains the Nice native to the media present in Sepang, including Motorsport.com. “I feel like the potential is there, we didn't do a time attack, but I pushed 100% and on lap 22 of the first day I was already fast. In these three days of testing we would also like to work on the time attack, which I believe is already on the agenda. I think the most important thing is on Friday afternoon now, 70% of the work is done. Then for qualifying we have to find a solution both for the bike and for my riding style. It's not just on one side, but I think we'll find it.”
Taking advantage of the concessions, Yamaha will be able to carry out many tests and this will be fundamental in trying to return to the top: “Private tests? I don't know how many days, but obviously whatever test day we have, we will have to make 100% use of it to complete as many laps as possible and try as many things. To be honest, we test for a good reason. We don't lap so much to do laps, but to improve and try to fight for victories again. For this reason I am fully focused on work and we can't wait to return.”
The work at Yamaha is also important from a future perspective, given that 2025 could be a year of great changes. However, El Diablo prefers to focus on this season, which has yet to begin: “This season hasn't started yet, we have to be smart. I am 100% focused on work. I think that at Yamaha they are doing a great job compared to previous years. For my future I will take my time.”
Watch: MotoGP Video | The Yamaha M1 revealed
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