“It’s really tough…” – Quartararo on transition to factory-spec Yamaha
Fabio Quartararo’s headline performances during his rookie MotoGP campaign may have earned him the privilege of upgrading to the latest specification Yamaha M1 for 2020 but he says he is finding the transition between bikes something of a challenge.
Scoring numerous pole positions and podiums aboard a Yamaha referred to as a B spec (or A- spec), Quartararo has subsequently been upgraded to the same factory machines as Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi for 2020.
However, it hasn’t been the most seamless of transitions for the Frenchman who only trialled the latest machine for the first time during March’s final MotoGP test in Qatar before the enforced long break threw another challenge into the mix.
Despite this, Quartararo was back to his customary best over a single lap during today’s one-day test in Jerez, finishing up second to Vinales, even if he alludes to it not coming as easily to him as it did on last year’s Yamaha.
“It was a really positive day after such a long time away and positive to be back on the bike. Of course, it was not so easy because we haven't had the 2020 bike for long and, after five months, going to Jerez that is a totally different track from Sepang and Qatar is not so easy.
“At the end of the day we managed to get quite a good pace, that was one of the points where we struggled last year and today we made it quite well. So I'm really looking forward for Friday.
“Honestly it's a difference,” he added, referring to his new M1 versus his previous one. “When I did the pole in Jerez I had already six days of tests, three grands prix, more practice and with this one let's say it's my first Grand Prix with the new bike.
“So, okay it's my second year in MotoGP, but I don't have 20 years of experience. So honestly it's really difficult, even if it looks like not so much, to adapt so quickly to one bike that you don't know so well. Honestly it was really tough.”
