Fabio Quartararo happy with first horsepower boost for 2023, but calls for further steps – New chassis pleases World Champion, Franco Morbidelli still undecided
Apart from Marc Marquez’s comeback after 100 days, the MotoGP test in Misano, which began on Tuesday and will end on Wednesday, was dominated by various new developments on the very first day. Honda, KTM and Yamaha came out with the first versions of their respective bikes for the 2023 MotoGP season.
Yamaha are currently testing a new chassis on the one hand and a new engine on the other. Both Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli were on track on Tuesday with both innovations (separate bikes).
As is well known, the engine has been the Achilles’ heel of the Yamaha M1 for years. Accordingly, the excitement was great for the first feedback. “This afternoon I tested a first version of the engine for 2023. It is a good step. I’m quite satisfied,” Quartararo praised, revealing that the new power unit finally has a few more horsepower.
New engine finally gives the M1 more top speed
This is exactly what the reigning world champion and current world championship leader has been demanding from Yamaha for many months, namely more engine power. And not least because they have assured him of that, Quartararo is a Yamaha factory rider until at least the end of 2024.
“Especially considering that there is still quite a bit of time until the first race [of the 2023 season] in Portimao, I am satisfied,” said Quartararo, while hoping that one or two more horsepower will be added by the end of March.
“For the moment I’m happy because in the afternoon I was able to look at the top of the top speed table for the first time instead of the bottom,” Quartararo grins, but immediately adds: “I still have a lot of wishes. The first step was very good, but we need more steps. “
Team-mate Morbidelli, who also tested the first version of the 2023 engine on Tuesday, is also happy. “The new engine feels good. In the lower rev range it is still as smooth and soft as you are used to from Yamaha. And at high revs in the upper gears, it allows a decent pace,” says the Italian.
Quote.
Quartararo likes new chassis – racing soon?
About the new chassis Quartararo says: “I tried the new chassis this morning. I could compare it directly because I had a fresh set of tyres for both chassis to be really sure. I have to say that the new chassis works very well. But I can’t say yet which of the two is the better one. “
80 laps in the first day of test. Positive step ! Let’s see tomorrow pic.twitter.com/H8gqeL9Uua
– Fabio Quartararo (@FabioQ20) September 6, 2022
Could the new chassis even be used in races before the end of the current 2022 season? “We’ll have to wait and see. Today I was faster with the standard chassis. But I really have to say that I like the feeling of the new one,” said Quartararo.
Looking ahead to the next race, the weekend after next, the current championship leader adds: “We will have the new chassis in our luggage for Aragon. But I don’t know yet if we will use it there. It might take a few more races before we decide. “
Morbidelli senses advantages and disadvantages with new chassis
Morbidelli was also out with the new chassis on Tuesday. The Italian sees positives, but also negatives.
“The frame is a bit different from the current one. It was interesting to ride the new one. In a few places on the track I was faster with it than before. But in braking, unfortunately, the performance was not so good,” said Morbidelli and continued, “We still have to analyse it in detail. Maybe I’ll ride it again tomorrow.”
Apart from that, Morbidelli tested a new fairing in the morning, which differs from the current fairing due to different winglets. So Yamaha is evaluating in three areas at the Misano test: Engine, chassis and aerodynamics.
