Yamaha: 'Interesting to see where we stand in Qatar'

Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha head to this weekend's Qatar MotoGP season opener as both reigning world champions and the defending Doha race winners.

Yamaha won both of last seasons Lusail races courtesy of a victory each for Quartararo and former team-mate Maverick Vinales.

But despite repeated pleas from their star rider, pre-season testing showed Yamaha has been unable to find significant top speed to help combat the likes of Ducati.

Quartararo finished the final pre-season test at Mandalika just 17th fastest through the speed trap, 9.8km/h slower than countryman Johann Zarco's Pramac Ducati.

Average top speed figures (best of five) put Yamaha at a slightly kinder 7.3km/h deficit.

"We didn't make any steps forward," was how Quartararo described Yamaha's top speed situation compared to last year.

Nevertheless, the flowing final corner in Qatar should help reduce Yamaha's pain along the 1km home straight and last year's pair of M1 victories - plus Quartararo win at Mugello - underlined that a 'slow' bike can still win at fast tracks.

"We have good memories of this place from last time," Quartararo said of the Lusail circuit. "I won my first GP with the factory team in Losail last year. The goal for this week is to hit the ground running. We need to make a good start on the Friday and try to make another step compared to last year."

The Frenchman delivered a strong average pace during the final pre-season test in Mandalika, where he also cured his initial time attack issues with the 2022 bike to finish second overall behind Pol Espargaro's Honda.

But the risk is that in a race situation, unless he escapes at the start, Quartararo could struggle to pass bikes with better straight-line speed, a frustrating scenario already experienced in the closing rounds of last year.

And it could get worse. There are now eight rather than six Ducatis on the grid while Honda, Aprilia and Suzuki seem to have found noticeable horsepower.

"I don't know where were we can improve," Quartararo, yet to sign for 2023, admitted at the end of testing. "When you start to feel the front moving everywhere, the rear is spinning at the limit, you're touching the elbow everywhere, it's difficult to find more [as a rider].

"But for me what is important is that the team, especially Yamaha, works a lot to find more speed so I feel less on the limit. Because to be honest, to ride at this pace, every time I go on track, I need to push so much. For sure every rider is on the limit, but it's quite tough for us."

Exactly how hard Quartararo needs to push will only become clear when the red lights go out at 6pm on Sunday.

"We are all excited to ’go back to school‘," said Monster Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli. "We‘ve completed our winter testing schedule on a positive note, and we feel ready to start the new season.

"The race in Qatar is usually a successful round for us. Our aim is to start the season strong to set the right tone. It will be interesting to see where we stand at the end of this weekend.

"For sure, we will give it our all to give the fans a spectacular season opener."

On the other side of the garage, Franco Morbidelli will be making his Qatar debut for the factory team, having joined the team in place of Vinales for the closing rounds of last year.

The Italian missed most of 2021 due to knee surgery but believes he's close to full fitness. Like the satellite RNF Yamaha riders, Morbidelli spent much of the pre-season firmly in Quartararo's shadow, but snatched a morale boosting fifth overall late on the final day at Mandalika.

"We are in Qatar now and ready to start the new season," said Morbidelli. "This GP weekend will be important for me to see where we stand in terms of fitness level during a race weekend. But judging by the tests, I‘m in pretty good shape.

"We made good steps during the tests, especially in Indonesia, so I‘m looking forward to getting to work here."

For the first time in many years, there has been no testing in Qatar ahead of the race weekend.