PETRONAS Yamaha SRT sign off 2019 with successful Jerez test

26-11-2019

PETRONAS Yamaha SRT sign off 2019 with successful Jerez test

Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli signed off their 2019 MotoGP campaign with a successful two-day test at Spain’s Circuito de Jerez Ángel Nieto, ending up fourth and seventh overall. Ending the second day early due to weather conditions, they still managed to gain valuable experience of new prototype parts as they both completed nearly 100 laps each over the test’s two days.

An early starter this morning after cold track temperature caused a delayed pit exit yesterday, conditions soon put paid to Quartararo being able to improve on his lap time. Completing only 26 laps compared to yesterday’s 68, his fastest time of 1min 37.964secs left him 0.153secs off P1 and fourth in the overall standings. Both Fabio and Franco were also able to return to the track in the afternoon to collect information on how their prototype Yamaha YZR-M1 engine reacted to wet track conditions.

Morbidelli’s day was equally disrupted by the rain, completing only 19 laps before calling it a day at Jerez. His best time of 1min 38.100secs left him 0.280secs from the top spot and seventh on overall times. Completing 75 laps yesterday as he tested a host of parts for next season, Franco and his team were able to gather plenty of data to be as best-prepared as possible when testing resumes in 2020.

Quartararo and Morbidelli will next return to track after the winter break at their home circuit, with the first pre-season test of 2020 set to get underway on 7th February at the Sepang International Circuit.

Franco Morbidelli

Unfortunately we didn’t learn much today, because as soon as we had completed a shake-down in the morning it started to rain and we had to stop. We managed to complete some laps in the afternoon to check out how the engine was behaving in wet conditions, but that was the end of the day for us. I feel good with the prototype engine, which is a great start. Of course, there is still plenty of work to do because there are areas where we can be better, but the direction that Yamaha has taken has been the right one. We need to improve in the braking areas, but that’s something we can concentrate on at the next test in Sepang.

Fabio Quartararo

We weren’t able to gain much from today, because just as I was getting ready to really start working on the bike it began to rain. I did my best lap time of the day but it was already starting to rain, and it turned out to be the only chance that I got. It’s disappointing that we couldn’t test as much as we wanted to, although I was also able to complete five laps in the wet to check how the engine worked in those conditions and it was positive. The track wasn’t wet all the way around for long so it wasn’t too helpful to keep riding and risk injury. We still need to work on the power delivery of the bike because it’s different from the current bike’s, but the pace I was setting yesterday was promising. We need to complete more laps, but overall it’s been a successful test for us. Now I’ll enjoy the time off and come back fresh to try everything again in Malaysia.

Wilco Zeelenberg

The first day of the test was quite positive for us, with nice weather allowing us to get a good idea of what the new components from Yamaha were doing. With the second day’s conditions being a little difficult we still need to work on the complete package to be ready for 2020, but we’ll have enough time to do that before the season starts in March.