Fabio Quartararo: ‘Bike is still shaking quite a lot on corner exit’
Fabio Quartararo says solving performance issues over one lap remains a mystery for Yamaha at the Sepang test.
While race pace was a strength for Yamaha and Fabio Quartararo throughout the 2023 MotoGP season, their main problems were to do with extracting performance over one lap.
And while the 2024 M1 appears to be a better bike at this early stage of pre-season testing, issues with generating the full potential over one lap remain.
Quartararo said this about the time attack issues: “We don’t know. Fast lap, it is where we miss but we don’t know exactly where.
“Exit of the corners is where our bike is still shaking quite alot and we have to improve it. We have to work hard and see if we can find something extra tomorrow.”
What is clear is that Yamaha have made a step forward regarding their top speed.
Quartararo had one of the better top speeds on day two in Sepang, although he did admit that braking late helps with that.
“I think the speed is also with the braking reference,” began Quartararo. “I’m not saying the bike is slow, the bike is very fast but the braking reference also makes it a little bit strange on the top speed.
“But this is super positive to have a fast bike but we still have to improve our fast lap. Our one lap we are missing so much and this is our biggest problem right now.
“Even though we tried many things on the bike today, at the end, when you put the new tyres; I was not lost, but we tried many items. It was a little bit strange but still we are missing a lot.”
11th fastest come the end of play, Quartararo missed out on a practice start due to a technical issue, which is the second day that’s happened after his holeshot device didn’t work on Tuesday.
The French rider, who says the new bike is lower to the ground, will rely on the data from Alex Rins before attempting a practice start on day-three.
“Yesterday my holeshot device was not working and today I didn’t make any starts,” said Quartararo. “Alex [Rins] did so the data will be great to see.
“I had a little issue at the end and could not make the practice start.
“Hopefully we can make better starts. Our bike is a little bit lower than last year which is positive.
“We are improving little-by-little but on the time attack still nothing and this is where we need to improve.”
