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MotoGP, Yamaha flies at Brno, but only in testing. And Honda doesn't sit idly by

Triple for Quartararo, Vinales and Morbidelli, with Rossi 6th and not fully satisfied with the 2020 prototype. But HRC brings Marquez (yet another) new frame and aerodynamics

MotoGP: Yamaha flies at Brno, but only in testing. And Honda doesn't sit idly by

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The Yamaha is the Monday bike, always quick in post-race testing. Unfortunately, when it doesn't need to be.

Fabio Quartararo set the quickest time, followed by Mavericks Vinales in second and Franco Morbidelli, third, and with Valentino Rossi sixth this might indicate a very positive test day.

A pity then, that the riders were not enthusiastic in their comments come the end of the day.

Valentino in particular did not seem pleased, despite having been able to test the Yamaha M1 in its 2020 preconfiguration, so with a new engine and updated aerodynamics.

When asked if he'd found what he needed, he replied"there was a little something, but we need... a big something".

Yamaha still behind in terms of top speed and acceleration

The usual valentinian way of downplaying things, but that finds justification when it comes to the top speeds.
The first Yamaha, that of Maverick, set only the tenth fastest top speed, with a 307.6 Km/h. The other three - Fabio, Vale and Franco (the most robust, physically speaking) did no better than 305 Km/h, Morbidelli managing just 304.2. Almost 10 Km/h kess than the Ducati of Dovizioso, clocked at 313.

The Iwata four-cylinders are also lacking a little acceleration, which makes us think that their rivals are also getting up to speed quicker.

Horsepower, if it's there, is felt in the throttle

Power is an immediate piece of data that can be understood by most riders: you feel it in the throttle and it is influenced by simple parameters.
The first three Desmosedicis, for example, were those of Dovi, Miller e Bagnaia, while Danilo Petrucci, who is taller and heavier, stopped the clock on 309.4, almost 4 Km/h less than his team-mate on an identical bike.

Having said that, the real value of this test needs to be verified, carried out at a track in better condition than that used for the race, thanks to more rubber. Something that might have minimised the M1's second biggest problems: a lack of mechanical grip.

Rossi came away satisfied only in terms of the commitment Yamaha is showing, the Japanese technicians finally appearing to have got moving, bringing a new bike plus other components to Brno, but the problems is that the others are not standing idly by.
Honda brought a new frame, not with carbon skin, and slightly modified aerodynamics. While Ducati came with a number of chassis updates, including a swing-arm, with Dovizioso implying that the Borgo Panigale guys won't be holidaying during August and that other new parts will arrive in time for the Misano test.

Lastly, we point out that two riders recognised as being among the quickest, Johann Zarco and Andrea Iannone, came in last position on the timesheets, with the KTM and Aprilia respectively.

Today's MotoGP is not about racing, but rather flying.

 

Translated by Heather Watson

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