After stopping the clocks in front of everyone else on the opening day of the Jerez tests, the last ones of 2025, Andrea Locatelli "settled" for the fourth best time on the final day at the Andalusian track. Again, the Yamaha rider showed consistency and solidity on the R1, although there was no shortage of critical issues that have been plaguing him for a while and preventing him from extracting 100 percent from the bike.
"As I said on Wednesday, the conditions at Jerez are always a bit particular, so making a definitive judgment on so many things becomes a bit complicated. Overall, though, I'm quite satisfied. At the moment we're trying to improve the bike, specifically a problem that I've been carrying around for a while regarding a vibration coming out of corners. This, so far, has slowed the work on detail and understanding the various solutions, however the balance is positive. We've had a good season and are preparing for the next one by moving toward a gradual approach. I repeat, to give a true judgment on this track, in November, is not really possible, however, something positive we have found and now we have to try to confirm it in January, so we will start 2026 with a pretty good package and we'll see in the course of the season what will happen," was his analysis of the situation.
In 2025 you were the leader at Yamaha, but next year you will have some tough nuts like Vierge and Manzi in house...
"It's important because then you help each other. A high-level team is useful to be able to go in the same direction, find solutions more easily and work in synergy. I'm also happy that my colleagues are doing well, because it means that the work done year by year to make progress has paid off. I think the package is quite good. For my part I still have work to do on some points, but overall I'm confident. Honestly, I would like to be in Phillip Island already to see what happens, but there is still testing to be done and we need it to figure out a few more details. In any case, I feel ready and it will definitely be a good 2026."
During these two days did you test anything in particular?
"During the first day we focused on the set-up, while on the last day we focused on other small changes, however because of the issue I mentioned I find it difficult to date to say with certainty what worked and what didn't. For this kind of thing we have to postpone everything until January or at least on a different track like Portimao, obviously hoping for good conditions to evaluate the package as a whole well and confirm that what we are testing is leading to an improvement."
This season you've been fighting for third place overall until the very end, and during testing you've shown an interesting pace. How much do you think might be missing to make the decisive leap?
"It's hard to say. Making progress on pace is never easy. I think it will only be possible when I have a package in my hands that can improve on what I am already doing. We'll see. Every weekend, every year and every circuit things change, especially on the tyre front, so it becomes necessary to adapt the bike for those needs. For me personally there is also the new aspect of the crew chief, so I will have to optimize every single test and track and make the most of what I have available trying to improve. For sure, there are many opponents, but you have to see race by race. In any case, I want to be positive because I know the bike pretty well, I know what its strengths are and what to work on, so let's keep it that way and give my best until the end."
What does a top rider like you do during the break?
"Now in December, I'm definitely going to devote myself to panettone and Prosecco, or Franciacorta since it's close to my home and not bad. Considering that in January we will be back on the track, the break will pass quickly since it is only a month and a half. I will certainly try to switch off because I need to recharge my batteries and I will plan physical preparation by doing off-road. For now I don't have a plan yet, but I will certainly put everything back together and reset so that I can come back all charged up."