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At times you start the day on the wrong foot, but finish it with a smile. This morning Valentino woke with a bad headache, “I had to stay in the dark and in silence for an hour and a half waiting for it to subside. I lost a couple of hours testing, and it didn't completely go away” he says.
A surprise awaited him in the garage though, in the shape of the new Yamaha M1. “I've tested the 'real' bike for the first time, the one I'll ride this season, and fortunately it's better than the old one - he confirms - They've worked well on the engine and the electronics and tomorrow I'll try a slightly different frame”.
Does this mean you were worried after last year's tests?
“I wasn't too concerned, also because on the last day here at Sepang I took a good step forward. But that bike was still a prototype, it had old and new parts, while this is the definitive bike. On the outside it looks the same but it's actually quite different”.
Is this one of the greatest evolutions you've seen since you've been at Yamaha?
“I don't think so, between 2003 and 2004 we made a bigger chance. But the biggest of all came between 2004 and 2005, that M1 is the ‘mother' of today's bike”.
How is the new model better?
“My first impression is tat the engine offers better acceleration and top speed. This bike is really well made, even in the details, it's a nice surprise. I wasn't feeling the best today, and tried to just do a few laps due to my headache, but it really rides well. The biggest problem last year is that we were stressing the tyres too much and we've found some interesting things there”.
Is it very different riding the M1 without wings?
"Not really, but you notice them more at slow tracks, rather than at tracks like Sepang".
Stoner's back on track with you…
“He's very fast, it's a good thing he's not racing (he laughs)”.
What do you think about Lorenzo's difficulties?
“It's too soon, it's just the first day of testing. In my experience, I can say that the Ducati is very different to the Yamaha and it requires a different riding style”.
Your impressions of Vinales, on the other hand?
“He's very fast (he laughs). In some ways, his style is more similar to mine, particularly in braking and corner entry, while Lorenzo was different. He rides very well”.
VINALES: "I DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE SO FAST" - And the times prove this, with Maverick closing in third place today, only the Ducatis ahead of him. A positive sign for a rider who is only on day 5 of riding with a brand new bike and a brand new team.
“It's gone better than I expected - he admits - The first day is always tough but I was fast right from the start. It's been a good day, and I've carried out a lot of tests”.
Are you pleased with your time?
“I'm particularly pleased with the bike's potential, because during testing it's not easy to make a fast lap. You need to carry out a lot of tests and when you have all the parts you like perhaps you can be quick”.
What have you focused on?
“On race pace mainly, I've made more than 20 laps on each tyre. The Suzuki was also very fast at this track, but with the Yamaha you can be consistently quick, from the first lap of the race to the last”.
What would you like to improve about the M1?
“First I need to fully exploit it, I have to improve in braking especially, an important phase of the races”.
What do you think about Stoner's fastest time?
“I don't understand why he doesn't race (he laughs)”.
