Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales: Yamaha engine under review

Valentino Rossi satisfied with the work on the new Yamaha engine. However, Maverick Vinales warns: "It is not enough, there are 7 km / h to match Honda".

At 13:34 on the second day of the MotoGP Test in Valencia Valentino Rossi had to park his Yamaha M1 2020 due to a technical problem. Probably an electronic problem, but the Iwata team leaders do not issue statements. The technicians worked for almost three hours in the box to bring the prototype back to the track, managing to get it back on track in the final stages of the day. Good first impressions awaiting confirmation: "Good test in all the two days, we are faster than we started. We had two important things to do: the new bike and improve the general setting of the standard bike. They are ninth because in the time attack I didn't drive very well, we worked well".

Compared to a year ago, winter begins with clearer ideas, thanks to a better reorganization at the Yamaha top. "They are doing well, there is less confusion than in the past, the program and the way forward are clearer. For example, last year we had two or three engines to choose from – added Valentino Rossi -. Now we have only one and it is constantly evolving". The priority is the engine and top speed: the M1 has gained approximately 5 km / h compared to the 2019 version. Very little to make a difference on the straights, a true Achilles heel in the championship just ended.

New developments are therefore expected at Jerez next week and above all for Sepang, when the engine launched for production will debut. But Maverick Vinales is already launching an alarm bell: "We are still far from Honda and Ducati, they have to bring something else. Power delivery is always the same and is an important thing". Modifications to the chassis are also planned although it is not necessary and the minimum differences. now the focus is mainly on the four-cylinder in-line, waiting for Petronas pilots to release their feedback. "There are still 7 km / h to get closer to the Honda".