World champion in 2021, vice-champion last season, Fabio Quartararo is now very far from the title race. Without a victory in 2023 and with only one podium on the clock (3rd in April during the GP of the Americas), the Niçois is only 11th in the drivers’ standings after 12 rounds.
The main cause of his decline lies in the performance deficit of his machine compared to the progress made by the competition, particularly from the Ducati armada. Although he is the highest ranked Yamaha rider in the championship, the wearer of number 20 is also ahead of the championship by KTM, Honda and Aprilia riders.
“Difficult to say anything really positive about the engine”
To initiate a reaction in 2024, the factory Yamaha Team has already announced the recruitment of Alex Rins (Honda LCR), in place of Franco Morbidelli. The arrival of the Spaniard, with his recent experiences at Suzuki and Honda, should above all help the team to take a step forward in terms of speed and development.
In the meantime, Fabio Quartararo had high hopes for the test session organized on Monday in Misano, the day after the San Marino Grand Prix. Although he set the 6th fastest time out of 20 riders, half a second from the benchmark established by Luca Marini (Ducati), the expected progress is clearly not there, particularly in terms of the engine.
Fabio Quartararo’s statement:
“I just tested the engine, the aero and the tires. I expected a lot better from this test, but we need to stay positive and analyze the data so we can improve for the Valencia test (at the end of the season). The feeling is different, but I was expecting more power. It’s hard to say anything really positive about the engine. In 2022, when I tested the 2023 bike, it was the first time I felt the engine was slightly better, but today I didn’t feel it.”
A day that could have massive implications on @FabioQ20‘s future with Yamaha
Hear his thoughts on the new engine and aero after the #MisanoTest #MotoGP | https://t.co/wslwS18PTN
— MotoGP (@MotoGP) September 11, 2023
The #MisanoTest is in the books!
Plenty of novelties spotted as @Luca_Marini_97 tops the morning & the afternoon sessions
Full report to follow #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/z72U42UWa8
— MotoGP (@MotoGP) September 11, 2023
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To sum up
The day after the San Marino Grand Prix, the test session held in Misano was of capital importance for Yamaha, in view of next season. Riding a 2024 prototype, Fabio Quartararo did not hide his disappointment when sharing his feelings.
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