Quartararo hopes Yamaha find more horsepower for next 2022 M1 test
MotoGP world championship leader Fabio Quartararo is hoping Yamaha can find 'a little bit more horsepower' by the time he next rides the 2022 M1.
The Frenchman and new team-mate Franco Morbidelli both got to sample the current prototype during this week's Misano test, which concluded on Wednesday evening.
"The bike was a prototype, so it was kind of a new bike to get used to, but it was really similar. The engine for sure. And then the chassis, my comments were quite okay, still some things to improve," Quartararo said.
"I expected a little bit more horsepower on the engine, but unfortunately not yet. So I really hope for the Jerez test [in November]."
But with a title lead to protect and a second Misano round in October, Quartararo's main focus was on his current machine, with which he finished second to title rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) on Sunday.
"I rode a few laps with the '22 bike. I couldn't do a lot, because we wanted to focus on some areas on the '21 bike, try some settings of swingarm, rear spring and something else, I don't remember exactly! But at the end, we went back to the standard setup that was the best," said Quartararo.
"Normally during the tests I want to be P1, but like yesterday, I did my best lap time with 15 laps on the tyre, so I'm really happy," he added, having resisted the urge to fit a new soft tyre at the end of each day, instead finishing seventh fastest (+0.375s from Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro).
"The temperature of the track was 10 degrees less than today, which gave us good information for the tyres [in October]. I found a really great feeling with that temperature, but I couldn't use the hard front.
"So we know that when we come back, if it the temperature is lower, we will not use the hard front. This is something really positive for the next Misano round."
Team director Massimo Meregalli said: "Concerning the prototype, we just wanted to give the riders a first feel. That was the only ’homework‘.
"The work on the 2021 bike was more important, also with an eye on Fabio‘s championship chances. We wanted to work on improving our performance, especially for the start of the Misano 2 race, because that would allow Fabio to put some extra pressure on our rivals.
"Fabio tested a lot of different things, and that brought clarity as to what the race set-up and tyres should be like for Misano 2."
Quartararo currently holds a 48-point lead over Bagnaia, who has won at the last two rounds.
Morbidelli had a more complicated day, crashing three times, fortunately without damaging his healing left knee. The Italian, who stepped up to the Monster Yamaha team and 2021 M1 this weekend, was 17th fastest (+1.051s).
"I'm feeling quite good. I'm a bit tired, especially the leg. The leg is very tired and a bit swollen. But it's OK," he said. "Also I had a couple of crashes, and the leg didn't get any worse, so I'm happy.
"Yesterday I've been trying the new specification [bike], and I felt quite good, I'm quite happy with it. And today I was just trying to increase the feeling with the 21 bike, and try to get better with it, and try to understand what I need to improve."
The Italian added: "For sure my physical condition is not ideal to test, but I try to make my contribution to Yamaha if I'm asked. Of course, I tell them to take into consideration my physical condition and my lack of kilometres on both bikes, the '21 and '22, in general. But if I'm asked to try to give my feelings.
"Otherwise, the plan is focus on the [knee] recovery, because this is an injury that needs to be well cared for, for the first 5-6 months. So we will keep on caring for it for this next 2-3 months for sure.
"But still we will try to improve my general physical condition, which is not great at the moment. For sure for America it will get better."
While the race riders now focus on the remainder of the racing season, test rider Cal Crutchlow will pick up development of the 2022 machine with upcoming private tests at Aragon and Jerez.
