P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Although Fabio Quartararo felt Yamaha delivered some ‘really positive’ aero updates at the Valencia MotoGP test, he warned ‘we are still very far from the top guys’.
Yamaha and Honda have additional testing opportunities available to them through the new concessions ranking system, which the 2021 world champion, Fabio Quartararo, believes will help them close the gap during the upcoming MotoGP tests at Sepang. Quartararo acknowledges the positive step taken in improving the aerodynamics but mentions that it has slightly affected the balance of the bike. Despite the progress, he emphasizes that there are still many small details that need to be adjusted. Yamaha had a winless season in 2021, and Quartararo finished tenth in the championship, but he remains hopeful for improvements in the next season. He mentioned that while wheelies have been reduced, they have not found an improvement in turning yet. Quartararo expressed the importance of working hard and having a clear idea of what they need to achieve better results. Although private testing time will be limited due to the proximity of the Sepang test and the start of the racing season in Qatar, Quartararo is hopeful that the additional days in Malaysia will bring them closer to their goals and that they can make further progress during the official pre-season tests.