Rossi and Viñales do not explain their decline in Sepang…
Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales are among the few riders whose times fell on the last day of MotoGP testing in Sepang (Malaysia). The two Yamaha officials finished more than half a second from the best time set by Lorenzo, without being able to explain the decline in their performance…
However, Sepang’s tests had started well for Rossi and Viñales, immediately on pace from day one and then leading the standings on day two. Both the Italian and the Spanish were said to be "very satisfied" with the developments made to the M1 2018, whose chassis has been redesigned on the basis of the 2016 model..
Representatives of the official Yamaha team also praised the progress made thanks to the new engine – more responsive – as well as the significant interest brought by new aerodynamic appendages. Relief for the manufacturer of Iwata, manhandled by its pilots last year because of the problems of traction of the M1 !
Unfortunately, the euphoria did not last since neither Rossi nor Viñales improved on the last day, when it was time to let go of the bridle to go chasing the clock! Worse still: both were slower, going from 1’59.390 to 1’59.449 for Rossi (+0.059 sec) and from 1’59.355 to … 2’00.547 for Viñales (+1.1192! ). Far, very far from on the 2018 Ducati…
"We didn’t quite understand what happened"
"I thought I was going faster than yesterday, which is normal since it is the third day. But it was the opposite, the day was more difficult", admits the Doctor, one of the only satisfactions of which is to finish this day best Yamaha rider (8th). "We suffered more, I found that there was less grip and suddenly we lost some positions".
The nine-time world champion nevertheless draws up a positive assessment by ensuring that the Yamaha has improved in several areas, especially in terms of maintaining the pace with worn tires, one of his main concerns in 2017: "we have a good better pace, especially with worn tires. Last year, I was in more difficulty ", he describes.
Still, Valentino Rossi is not able to explain his inability to increase his pace on the last day, as he had logically planned to do: "yesterday I was optimistic about being able to improve my time, but it worked. was impossible ", regrets the n ° 46 by making the sad observation that he and his team did not" understand well what happened "…
"I don’t know why, but the day was very complicated"
His young team-mate Maverick Viñales – who turned 23 on January 12, just before joining Yamaha – is just as puzzled by the downturn of the M1s. For the Spanish, this third day even turned into a nightmare with a tumble to 18th position, 1.717 sec from the reference time. !
This scenario is reminiscent of the one he experienced several times last year, driving the lap times during free practice before seeing his pace collapse in the race … The result in the lap is clear: the n ° 25 was unable to drop below the 2’00 mark, although he was turning in the low range of 1’59 the day before.
"I think we worked pretty well, but I don’t know why today was a very complicated day. And especially the afternoon", deplores Viñales who will focus on data analysis "to see what we can improve for the next tests in Buriram ", planned .
Even more worrying for the Yamaha clan: this situation already occurred in November during (Spain), which tends to suggest that the return to the 2016 chassis would not ultimately solve all of the Yamaha’s problems….
“In Valencia Maverick and I were third and fourth on Tuesday and everything was going well,” Rossi recalls. "Then difficulties arose the next day: with the same bike and the same tires, we were eighth and ninth". The specter of an M1 with such versatile behavior as in 2017 continues to hover dangerously above the Yamaha box…
"Jorge had an incredible time"
The two teammates are however certain of one thing when they leave Sepang: the performed by Jorge Lorenzo on the last day is simply bluffing, despite the Mallorcan’s.
"Jorge had an incredible time and I think he will be very competitive this year," said Valentino Rossi, well aware of the danger his former Yamaha teammate poses if he continues his progress on a visibly well-born 2018 Ducati…
"It was an incredible lap, and in addition it seems quite consistent", also observes Maverick Viñales, who believes that it will be necessary "to be wary of Ducatis, including in Qatar" – where the n ° 25 had won his the last year.
Recall that in 2017, Andrea Dovizioso had won six victories on the Desmosedici, two more than Rossi and Viñales combined: the Doctor won only once – in the Netherlands -, while the Spanish has three successes (Qatar, Argentina and France)…
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