Yamaha arrives at this weekend’s British MotoGP at Silverstone with fresh insights gained from a private test session. Under the concession rules, Yamaha and Honda are permitted extra development opportunities, which Yamaha utilized after a strong performance at the French MotoGP held in Le Mans. The team conducted tests at Misano to further refine their rapidly advancing MotoGP bike.
Yamaha’s team director, Massimo Meregalli, detailed the testing process:
“We have done some additional work between the French GP and the upcoming British GP. The track conditions were not the best on the first day of our private Misano test because it was wet, but on the second day we were luckier, so we got some more testing done, and we got good information from it. We tested some chassis settings, electric control settings, and aerodynamics as our main topics.”
Besides that, we also did some testing jobs for Michelin.
Fabio Quartararo commented on the session, noting the initial weather challenges but positive developments: “The Misano private test got off to a slow start because of the rain on the first day. We also had bad luck in timing these tests last year, but fortunately this time on the second day we got a lot more done, and I felt good.
I’m enjoying riding the bike lately, so that makes a big difference.
His factory teammate, Alex Rins, echoed this sentiment about the test:
“After the Le Mans weekend we had one-and-a-half day of private testing in Misano. Due to some rain, we lost a bit of time, but we were still able to test what we came for.”
At the end of the second day, I was quite satisfied with the feeling I had on the bike.
Quartararo Targets Front-Running Performance at Silverstone
Yamaha’s ability to gather critical data during private testing while other major manufacturers could not offers them a competitive edge heading into the British MotoGP. Fabio Quartararo’s qualifying pace has been impressive, having secured pole position consecutively at Jerez and Le Mans. Although he showed strong pace in the French race, challenging weather conditions forced him out, but he was a solid runner-up at the Spanish GP behind Alex Marquez.
As the defending winner of the British MotoGP from 2021, Quartararo expressed his enthusiasm and determination:
“I’m really looking forward to Silverstone, where we will give it our all once more. Let’s see if here we can fight at the front again.”
Alex Rins, who claimed victory at Silverstone in 2019, shared his positive outlook on the weekend ahead:
“We are now in the UK for the race weekend at Silverstone, which is a very fast and quite technical circuit. I like this track, so I’m hoping for another nice weekend starting from the Friday.”
Massimo Meregalli also commented on the team’s outlook for the Silverstone GP:
“Now, arriving in Silverstone, we are curious to see what we can achieve. It’s a fast track, and there are sectors that are good for our bike. It’s always difficult to predict how a GP weekend will play out, but one thing is for certain: we will give it our all to maintain our positive trajectory.”
Upcoming British GP Holds Strategic Importance for Yamaha
The upcoming race at Silverstone will be crucial for Yamaha to consolidate the progress made during their private testing phase. The combination of improved chassis, aerodynamic tweaks, and electronic settings tested at Misano aims to improve race pace and consistency. With Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins both comfortable and confident on this UK circuit, Yamaha’s chances for a strong showing are promising.
Yamaha’s development opportunities under the concessions rule also underline the team’s ongoing commitment to pushing their MotoGP package forward against stiff competition from manufacturers like Honda. The lessons learned from private tests and recent races suggest Yamaha is focused on sustaining momentum throughout the season.
