RiderTua.com – In Portugal Monday’s test was a valuable opportunity for the concession team’s regular riders. Where the Yamaha team stayed in Portimao and underwent private tests. The focus is definitely on aerodynamics where they are still behind their European rivals. Yamaha plans to present the first homologation aero updates at Barcelona or Mugello.
Yamaha rider Alex Rins spilled the details, although it was something that wasn’t too flashy.. “There are new details on the fairing, but they’re small things.. There’s no new wings or anything like that,” he said..
Yamaha Intensively Conducts Private Tests in Portugal
However, Rins’ statement turned out to be not entirely true. The first images from the test show that Yamaha created a rear end similar to the Aprilia model equipped with Ducati-like fins. Step by step, Yamaha is also focusing more and more on aerodynamics.
But Quartararo said… “I think it’s not just about aerodynamics. There are no big problems, but we have to improve many small things step by step. It’s the grip on the rear wheel, the electronics, the geometry.”
Fabio Quartararo added that there are many small things and according to him they are more difficult to solve than big problems and this is Yamaha’s ‘dilemma’. The team had to be patient because with only two bikes (without a satellite team) it was very difficult to find something quickly, he complained.
Rins Test for Adaptation
The Frenchman will probably test new parts as Rins still has to concentrate on himself. Rins’ bike settings are more or less the same as Fabio’s. But after the race Alex realized that he had to do something different…
Rins added.. “I had a similar problem to what happened in Qatar. It affected the front wheel when I released the brake and accelerated. I’m not satisfied yet. It’s not the bike’s fault. For me, this is only the second race with this bike. I still have to getting to know and understand everything better. During the test, it was important for me to concentrate more on the set-up than on the new parts. We had to put more weight on the front wheel so that the bike turns easily…”
BTW: Only Quartararo and Rins tested on Monday. Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow was not in action.
