Yamaha's revised factory-spec M1, widely savaged by its riders by the end of last year, made a perfect start to 2021 with victories for Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo in the Qatar season-openers. The bike has gone on to win four of the six races so far and leads the world championship by 24-points, but all of the post-Qatar victories – and title lead – has been courtesy of Quartararo. No other factory-spec Yamaha has finished on the podium since Qatar, the other M1 rostrum being a third for Franco Morbidelli on the A-spec bike in Jerez, after Quartararo faded from the lead with arm pump. The closest Yamaha to Quartararo in the world championship is now Monster Yamaha team-mate...
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