Метка: Fabio Quartararo

Yamaha’s turning woes led to arm pump for Quartararo in MotoGP Spanish GP

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The start to the 2024 campaign has so far proven difficult for Yamaha, though it still managed to snare 2021 world champion Quartararo to a new two-year deal beyond the end of this season.

At Jerez – a track Quartararo has won at twice in MotoGP – the Frenchman scored an unlikely third in the 12-lap sprint amidst a spate of crashes ahead of him, though was later penalised to fifth for having breached the minimum tyre pressure rule.

There were no such heroics in the grand prix, as Quartararo struggled from a career-worst 23rd on the grid to score a single point in 15th.

But his result was largely conditioned by the 2024 Yamaha’s weaknesses in turning, which led to him suffering from arm pump.

“From the beginning I made a good start but [in the sprint] was also the factor that I had a little bit of luck that everything was really good in front,” he said.

“I made a great start also [in the Grand prix], but I didn’t manage to gain positions.

“And we struggled from lap one with the rear grip, I struggled a lot to turn, I forced the bike a lot to turn on the brakes and for me, I had an issue with the arm.

“So, from mid-race to the end I had to slow down.

“When you are riding really tense, tight on the bike I was not great. So, the last 10 laps I was just cruising because the arm was not right.”

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Quartararo lost the 2021 Spanish GP to Jack Miller as an arm pump issue dropped him rapidly down the order. He later had this operated on.

Asked if was surprised to have suffered the issue again, Quartararo said no as the bike has caused it – albeit more mildly – at other races this season.

“No, was not a surprise,” he added.

“I mean, it happens many times this year but it was never really a limit.

“But when you feel good on the bike you don’t have it, and when you feel not alright you have it.

“Some races I had it, but not that much and not that early.

“But it’s part of our challenge, also today [Sunday] we tested the bike a little bit this morning which we thought was better. But it was a bit worse. This is what happened.”

Quartararo also noted that, with the Yamaha’s current problems with turning and rear grip, Jerez is a circuit that exacerbates the bike’s flaws.

“It’s always the matter [of improving the bike],” he said when asked if there was anything he could do about the arm pump.

“When you feel good, everything is perfect. When you are riding like you are forcing the bike a lot, like this is one of the tracks that is right now one of the worst for us because the turning is the weak point [along] with the grip, and on this track you need both.

“So, I expect Le Mans to be better because it’s more about braking and I will feel better on that track.”

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Quartararo felt «massive change» on new Yamaha M1’s first MotoGP test

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In its bid to arrest a steady decline in performance over the last few years, Yamaha had been working behind the scenes on an all-new version of its MotoGP contender, which was finally ready for its first test after Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Both 2021 champion Quartararo and new recruit Alex Rins got to put the new M1 through its paces at the Jerez test, finishing 18th and 14th respectively after clocking 157 laps between them.
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While the Frenchman wanted to reserve his full verdict until Yamaha had gotten a chance to properly analyse the data, he was clear that the changes the Japanese manufacturer has made had a big impact on the way the M1 feels on track.

“It’s the first time when we test something new it’s not slightly different. The new chassis we tried is really different,” he said.

“In the past, we used to test something different but [the changes were only] a little and now it was a massive change for me to feel what is on the bike. 

“It was a first step for us to see where the right way is, but we now have to make another test to see clearly and to have some ideas [on] what we do on the bike.”

He added: “[With the chassis], we are looking for turning [cornering] and we are trying to find it. 

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“I found a slight improvement going in but not really on the turning, it’s really a small step.

“I have a little bit more feedback from the front, that is something that I was missing. But it’s not massive. This was a little bit better but we are missing a lot.”

Yamaha has completely overhauled the M1 after successfully persuading Quartararo to sign a fresh two-year deal, with the changes to the bike covering a wide variety of areas including chassis, aerodynamics and electronics.

Only the engine has not been changed so far, with Yamaha electing to continue with its test unit — which is built to the same specification as the race motor.

“We tested many, many things, we tested new chassis, new aero, new swingarm, new electronics especially,” he revealed. “The engine is a test engine, so it’s the same as [the race unit].

“It was difficult to take conclusions right now. Of course, now we will have to analyse well. Some positives, some things that are not working, unfortunately.

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“But we will have more tests in Mugello after Le Mans, so these are things that we can modify and see what we can improve.”

Quartararo expects Yamaha to run some new parts in the French Grand Prix at Le Mans next month, as it continues to evaluate the package it debuted in the Jerez test.

“We will use a few items that we tested today because it’s always better to test in different tracks, and for Le Mans, we will use a few things that are not bad,» he said.

“It will be interesting to see in three different tracks what is my feeling, especially because Le Mans and Mugello are very different from here.”

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Quartararo stresses ‘quality over quantity’ with upcoming Yamaha MotoGP update

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The start to the 2024 MotoGP season has not been easy for Yamaha having scored just 19 points in the opening three rounds, with a best of eighth for Fabio Quartararo in the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Despite this, Yamaha has been able to snare Quartararo to a new two-year contract and has big updates planned for the coming races.

With tests lined up for after the Spanish and French GPs, 2021 world champion Quartararo admits the next month will be «busy» but is «quite optimistic» for the updates scheduled.

«It will be a busy test for us in Jerez,» he said. «Then after Le Mans, we have two days in Mugello.

«So, it’s going to be a busy month for us, but it’s the mindset for me right now. It’s not focused on the results but focused on trying to improve our bike.

«Of course, it’s difficult because I’m a winner and I want to finish the best as possible, but I think sometimes it’s great to make these kinds of things that we made this weekend.»

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Asked by Motorsport.com if Yamaha management had told him anything about the amount of updates it would be bringing, Quartararo added: «I think the amount is not the most important thing.

«It’s better the quality than the quantity. I think the quality of the aero that is coming, they are really optimistic because from 2019 till this year we were riding the same aero basically.

«This year is the first year we are racing with a different style of aero.

«So, basically, we are learning. From January we have made some big steps, but from January to April is just a few months and you cannot completely change your bike and mentality. But we are quite optimistic.»

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Despite finishing a lowly 12th in the Americas GP, Quartararo feels the weekend was positive overall as Yamaha has been able to confirm exactly what its main issues are.

«I mean, the direction we know what we need,» he said. «So, this is something really positive because it’s three races and three races where we missed exactly in the same areas.

«This weekend was great because we basically tried many, many things. Now we turned around all the settings on the bike.

«We need new items to really improve. It’s coming, it’s on the way, but I think right now the goal is on improving our bike and not focus on the results.»

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Marquez’s Honda exit «woke a lot of people up» at Yamaha

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Earlier this month, Quartararo inked a fresh multi-year deal with Yamaha, keeping him with the Iwata-based manufacturer until at least the end of the 2026 season.

The new contract was agreed despite an underwhelming start to the new campaign for Yamaha, leaving the 24-year-old to fight for lower reaches of the points in the opening three rounds of the season.

It also followed six-time champion Marquez’s call to leave Honda with a year left on his contract and join forces with the independent Gresini Ducati team in 2024, a decision that has already allowed him to fight for podiums and race wins.

But while Quartararo didn’t follow in the footsteps of Marquez and elected to keep his faith in Yamaha, he believes the Spaniard’s decision to split with Honda actually worked out in his favour.

He feels Marquez’s move to Gresini sprung Yamaha into action, as it showed that top riders in MotoGP are willing to trade loyalty for more competitive machinery.

«It’s a moment that a lot of people have been waiting for,» the 2021 champion told French broadcaster Canal+. «My choice was to stay with Yamaha, not by default, but for the project.

«I think that Marquez’s departure from Honda to Ducati woke up a lot of people at Yamaha.

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

«They’ve recruited a lot of new engineers, and a lot of things are happening in Italy rather than in Japan.

«The speed with which parts can be changed has totally changed. I think it was very interesting for me to continue with Yamaha.»

Some factions have questioned Quartararo’s choice to stay at Yamaha for 2025-26, amid its continued struggles in MotoGP over the last few seasons.

While the Japanese manufacturer has been overhauling its MotoGP programme by bringing in new people and changing its philosophy, while also taking advantage of the new concessions system, the jury is out on whether the work it is putting in will yield the desired results on track.

Quartararo admitted that he did consider moving to a different team earlier in the year, but his decision was swayed by the amount of resources Yamaha is dedicating to return to the sharp end of the field.

«Of course, I totally understand [that people have doubt about his choice] because even I, a few months ago, was really ready to take my departure for another team,» he said.

«I’m not going to say [which one] but of course, Yamaha is investing huge sums to get a better bike. I think it’s one of the only brands investing so much in this project.

«We’re already going to see some improvements this year. I think that this year will be very difficult, already to fight for a few podiums, but I think that this year will be very important for the next two.»

Watch: MotoGP: Vinales recovers from 11th to win | 2024 #AmericasGP



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Age a key factor in Quartararo’s new Yamaha MotoGP deal

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Five days before the start of the Americas GP, Yamaha announced the extension of Quartararo‘s contract until the end of 2026.

Quartararo justified his decision in Texas with the internal restructuring process that has been launched within the technical department of the Japanese team.

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The most important aspect of this is the incorporation of Massimo Bartolini, Gigi Dall’Igna’s right-hand man at Ducati, as technical director.

Before Quartararo’s renewal was made official, many compared the dilemma facing the rider to the one faced by Marquez last season, which eventually led him to leave Honda after 11 years and join the satellite Gresini team, where he competes on a Ducati that is not even the latest specification.

Although Quartararo took the opposing decision, 31-year-old Marquez understands the reasons that led the 24-year-old to give Yamaha another chance.

«I’m not surprised that Quartararo has stayed at Yamaha,» said Marquez in an interview with Motorsport.com in Austin. «First of all because Yamaha is Yamaha, and Honda is Honda. Sooner or later, they will get there.

«A lot of people have compared it to my situation, but Fabio has a lot more time than I had left.»

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team, Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team, Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Another element that leads the Spaniard to sympathise with his rival’s decision is the absence of trauma such as the one he experienced following the arm injury he sustained at Jerez in 2020, which led him to undergo surgery four times.

«He hasn’t gone through a period like I did, with a very serious injury that even led me to doubt myself. That is fundamental,» added Marquez, who finished on the podium in the sprint race on Saturday, and who crashed on Sunday while leading the main event.

Quartararo crossed the line 15th on Saturday and 12th on Sunday, further evidence that the Iwata-based constructor’s recovery will take a long time.

After the first three grands prix of the calendar, the 2021 world champion is 12th in the standings, with his best result so far being seventh in Portugal.

«When you are in a project in which you have been given a lot, and you are promised more, it is normal to have that patience and confidence that it will come,» continued Marquez, aware that, in such a competitive ecosystem as the MotoGP world championship, effort is not always rewarded.

«You have to have confidence and also luck because all the engineers work hard. The luck lies in [the technicians] finding the key that translates into a competitive bike,» Marquez added.

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Quartararo says Yamaha MotoGP renewal down to ‘huge confidential’ changes

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Last week Yamaha announced it had re-signed Quartararo to a new two-year contract, reportedly worth around €12 million per season, taking him through to the end of 2026.

It comes as Yamaha has continued to struggle for form in the first round of 2024 and Quartararo admitted discussions with rival teams.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Americas Grand Prix, the 2021 world champion says a meeting held at the last round in Portugal helped him decide to remain with Yamaha after what he was told about the next steps of the M1 project.

“Of course we talked to different manufacturers,” he started. “The decision was not easy. But in Portugal we had a great meeting with top management of Yamaha, engineers, about the project from now until the end of the year and 2025 and 2026.

“There are some really interesting things, which are still confidential in Yamaha, new people, and the project is going to be huge. So, the decision was made in Portugal.”

Yamaha has already made key changes to its working methods over the winter, chief amongst them was the signing of long-time Ducati engineer Max Bartolini as technical director.

Fabio Quartararo, Lin Jarvis, Yamaha Factory Racing, Thomas Maubant

Fabio Quartararo, Lin Jarvis, Yamaha Factory Racing, Thomas Maubant

Photo by: Yamaha

Quartararo added that his arrival as well as the budget that Yamaha is committing to the MotoGP project were also key factors in his decision.

“I think also one of the reasons is the budget in terms of improving the bike is really high in Yamaha,” he said.

“With the arrival of Max Bartolini from Ducati, he really brought us some good ideas and Yamaha can make it quick – but not super quick because we need a little bit of time.

“But this is something super important and already next year it [the bike] can be quite different.”

He added: “It was great because for me in Portugal it was a lot of information that made me want to stay.

“First of all, it’s the project that Yamaha is building for the future, starting from now of course… well, from January.

“What really made me want to stay was the way we totally change the way of working.

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“Already from testing in Malaysia, something was not working and some engineers wanted to take it out [from the bike] already.

“But some engineers said ‘no, we will resolve the problem’ and it [then] worked. Also some confidential projects for the future that is going to be huge, that Yamaha is investing a lot in the project.

“When a brand like Yamaha, it will be my sixth year this year, really wants to keep me it’s loyalty from them also.”

Asked by Autosport if he thinks the next two years is time enough to be competitive again with Yamaha, Quartararo replied: “Yes. I don’t know when. I think this year it will not be easy because we started a little bit too late.

“But already we will see some steps coming at halfway in the season and hopefully we can make some more steps to the front.”

 



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Quartararo signs new MotoGP deal with Yamaha despite 2025 rumours

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Quartararo made his MotoGP debut in 2019 with Yamaha at the satellite Petronas Sepang Racing Team, scoring seven podiums in a stunning rookie campaign.

This earned him a promotion to the factory squad in 2021 to replace Valentino Rossi, with Quartararo arriving there as a three-time race winner following the 2020 campaign.

Quartararo went on to win the world championship in 2021 and fought to the wire the following year, but missed out to Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia as the M1 struggled for form.

Those struggles continued into 2023, with Quartararo only scoring three podiums and finishing 10th in the standings.

With his Yamaha contract up at the end of 2024, speculation has been rife that the Frenchman could move elsewhere for 2025.

However, on Friday morning Yamaha announced it had agreed a new two-year deal with Quartararo to lock him down until the end of 2026.

Quartararo had been vocal throughout 2023 about Yamaha’s need to change its approach to bike development in order to convince him to stick with the project, though a number of personnel changes – including the arrival of Max Bartolini from Ducati — had enthused Quartararo over the winter.

However, the competitiveness of the M1 was described by him as “further away than ever” from its rivals after the opening round of the 2024 campaign in Qatar.

Quartararo was 11th in Qatar and seventh in the Portuguese GP, and continued to tell the media that he was engaging in discussions with rival manufacturers.

Despite Yamaha’s form not currently matching expectations, Quartararo said in a Yamaha press release about his new deal that his confidence has been significantly boosted by the Japanese marque’s efforts behind the scenes.

“I am super happy to announce that I am going to continue my adventure in blue,” he said.

“Last winter Yamaha proved to me that they have a new approach and a new aggressive mindset. My confidence is high: we will be back at the front together!

“Six years ago, they gave me the chance to step up to MotoGP, and since then we have achieved great things together.

“We still have a long way ahead of us to start fighting for victory again. I will work hard, and I am sure that, together, we will achieve our dream once more!”

Due to its poor results last year, Yamaha does have use of extensive concession benefits in 2024 – including unrestricted testing and free engine development – aimed at boosting it up the order.

Quartararo’s signing is another significant move in the 2025 rider market, with Ducati’s Bagnaia, KTM’s Brad Binder and LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco joining the Yamaha rider in having deals through to the end of 2026.

Ducati has also put Moto2 star Fermin Aldeguer to a two-year contract, though what team he will race for remains unclear at this stage.

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Rins «needs to do something different» to Quartararo on Yamaha MotoGP bike

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Rins finished 13th in Sunday’s Portuguese Grand Prix, six places behind team-mate Quartararo, in what was his second competitive weekend for Yamaha following his off-season switch from LCR Honda.

Although this was a massive improvement from his point-less 16th-place result in the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix, where the Yamaha package was quite uncompetitive, the Spaniard felt he encountered the same issues in Portimao that plagued him at Losail.

Having relied on Quartararo’s set-up as a base line so far, the 28-year-old feels he now needs to take a different direction in order to get a better grasp of the 2024-spec M1.

“It was a hard race,” he said after scoring his first points with Yamaha. “These two races I did, Qatar and Portimao, were not the way that I was expecting.

“We need to work a little bit more on our own. We did small changes on the bike but focusing on the set-up that Fabio is using, more or less.

Alex Rins, Yamaha Factory Racing

Alex Rins, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“After this race I realised that I need to do something different on the bike because I have similar problems as the race in Qatar.

“I was struggling a lot with the front, after releasing brakes, going on throttle. I am struggling to turn, I cannot do [lean] angle.”

He added: “It’s more set-up than my position on the bike. In the middle of the race I tried to change my riding style on the bike to see if I was able to lock more the front, but it was not enough.

“So looks like we need more weight on the front to make the bike turn.”

Yamaha organised a private test at Portimao on Monday, taking advantage of the new concessions system introduced in 2024 to close the gap between Japanese and European marques in the championship.

However, due to dirty track conditions, not much useful running was able to take place.

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