Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez has confirmed the Japanese manufacturer’s apparent lack of progress with its V4-powered MotoGP bike.
Following its debut at the San Marino Grand Prix last month, the machine made its second race appearance at the Malaysian Grand Prix last weekend.
But Fernandez, who rode the bike on both occasions, told press after the Sepang race that the team had not moved forward in terms of competitiveness since its initial outing.
This seemed evident from the results in Malaysia, even allowing for Fernandez’s claim that the engine is still running in ‘safe mode’. The Spaniard qualified last on the grid, with a margin of 2.381s to the pole pace set by Francesco Bagnaia. He then went on to finish the grand prix ahead of only Miguel Oliveira, who had crashed and remounted.
“It was a difficult weekend for us,” reported Fernandez, who also confirmed that there had only been minor updates to the bike in the weeks since Misano. “We started the weekend worse than how we finished in Misano, so we felt like we had to start again in discovering what we needed to do [then], to find the base in the end.
“The only positive thing is that with all the work we’ve done, we are now at the same point as how we finished the race in Misano.”
Augusto Fernandez, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Asked if he thought there was enough time for the bike to become competitive by next year’s opening race in Thailand, Fernandez’s initial response was, “Not really, not really.”
He then backtracked a little, saying he would reserve judgment until the final race appearance of the year – and subsequent test – at Valencia.
“I [will tell you] in Valencia. Now we are far [from the pace] but if we go in the right direction after all the data that we have analysed… in Valencia we will confirm and after that I will say if we will be ready [for Thailand] or not.”
Fernandez knows the clock is ticking, but sees some hope in the fact that the team knows where it needs to improve.
“After analysing all the data during the weekend, we know that we have the same problem as in Misano. We can say that this [is the only] positive, because we have a clear direction to follow at least for the next test, for the next race in Valencia, to try to improve. But we need the engineers now to work on new things and follow this direction.”
Augusto Fernandez, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Fernandez was willing to elaborate a little on the issues the bike faces. He did not appear to be a fan of deliberately running reduced power either.
“One of the topics is the engine. I would like to have – as they say that we have more power – something more similar to what it’s going to be.
“And then we need a base; we need to keep working on what we saw here and in Misano. We need the balance of the bike. We are unbalanced; we’re still unbalanced.”
With the Valencia test taking place in three weeks, Yamaha will continue testing the V4 in private between now and then.
“The only thing is that we don’t have time and we want to be ready for the next race,” concluded Fernandez. “We need to accelerate the development and the process a little bit, but the good thing is that there is something clear, some direction to follow now. We need to keep working hard.”
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