Fabio Quartararo Surprised by Yamaha's New Aero Package at British MotoGP

Fabio Quartararo, source: crash.net

Fabio Quartararo Expresses Surprise at Yamaha's New Aero Package During British MotoGP

Silverstone, UK – Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP World Champion, openly admitted his surprise and satisfaction with the new aerodynamic package introduced by his team during the British Grand Prix weekend. This latest iteration of aero fairings, tested discreetly between the French and British Grand Prix at Misano, made an unexpected appearance at Silverstone, much to Quartararo's delight and seemingly, to the benefit of his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1.

On Thursday, prior to the official practice sessions, Quartararo had conveyed his doubts about whether the aero wings he had evaluated at Misano would be ready for competitive use at Silverstone. However, a pleasant "surprise" awaited him on Friday morning. "The team told me we had a surprise, but it's not fully carbon yet," the Monster Energy Yamaha rider revealed after the initial practice sessions at the British Grand Prix. "It's a prototype, not carbon. The weight is a bit heavier, but I feel it's beneficial, and I want to use it. Also, Alex [Rins] didn't like it as much, so it was easy to decide who would have the aero." This anecdote highlights the nuanced development process in MotoGP, where rider feedback plays a crucial role in determining which new components make it to the track.

Quartararo further elaborated on the specific advantages of the revised aerodynamic design, noting a tangible improvement in cornering performance. "Cornering is a little bit better," he stated when questioned about its benefits. "The difference is not massive, but that's my feeling, and my feeling aligns with the data, so we decided to homologate this fairing." The alignment between rider sensation and telemetry data is a critical aspect of successful development in premier-class motorcycle racing, confirming the effectiveness of Yamaha's latest aero innovation.

Beyond the aero package, the French rider also experimented with a new swingarm during the morning session but quickly discarded it for the afternoon. "Clearly only in the morning because the new [swingarm] didn't work at all, and I went back to the standard one in the afternoon," he explained. "So I only used the standard one in the afternoon." This quick decision to revert to a known quantity underscores the fast-paced nature of MotoGP practice sessions, where effective problem-solving and immediate adaptation are paramount.

Overall, it proved to be a positive Friday for Yamaha, a significant turn of events considering their struggles in recent seasons. The team managed to place three of their bikes within the top 10 during practice, a promising sign for the Japanese manufacturer. Quartararo specifically highlighted the M1's strong performance over a single lap, and the presence of two other Yamahas closely matching his lap times was a source of encouragement. "Especially on one lap, it's good," Quartararo affirmed. "I think in the past, when we started 2022 with a bit of a slower pace, we were a bit weaker, but now it seems we are starting to get back to one-lap speed, and we are working hard to improve race pace a little bit better. Hopefully, we can find a solution for the race pace, although here it's quite okay."

He added that witnessing his teammates, Jack Miller and Alex Rins, along with Miguel Oliveira, progressively closing the gap to the front was a welcome development. "I'm happy to say that Jack [Miller] is there, and Alex too, and Miguel [Oliveira] is slowly coming back," he commented. "Normally, you don't want your teammates too close, you usually want as much distance as possible, but seeing them getting closer and closer to the top is something I really like and something that will give us a lot of data to analyze." This sentiment from Quartararo is particularly insightful, revealing a collaborative spirit within the Yamaha camp that prioritizes collective improvement through shared data and competitive pressure.

The underlying reason for Yamaha's recent improvement in single-lap pace – exemplified by Quartararo's achievement of back-to-back pole positions in the two preceding Grand Prix before Silverstone – has been attributed to a newfound consistency in their overall package. "For me, [the improvement in one-lap speed] is the consistency that, since Qatar... we have maintained the same base and made small modifications," Quartararo elaborated. "Since Qatar, we have changed the bike a lot," he clarified, "but only a few details, and this is the difference, and it has always been one of my strongest points to be on the limit for one lap." He continued, emphasizing the collective belief within the team: "That belief is there, and I think Jack, Alex, and Miguel also feel it." This highlights a strategic shift within Yamaha, focusing on incremental, consistent improvements rather than radical overhauls, allowing riders to build confidence and push the limits.

Finally, Quartararo made a bold prediction about the potential for lap times to drop even further on Saturday, suggesting that breaking into the 1:56s might be achievable, even if he himself isn't the one to do it. "I think tomorrow, if the weather is good, we will [reach] 1:56," he predicted. "Maybe not me, but I think the lap times will drop to 1:56." This demonstrates the rapid evolution of pace within a Grand Prix weekend, driven by continuous development and rider adaptation to track conditions.

The introduction of new aero elements and the strategic focus on consistent development underline Yamaha's commitment to returning to the pinnacle of MotoGP. While the single-lap pace is crucial for qualifying, the true test lies in converting that speed into consistent race performance. Quartararo's initial positive impressions of the new fairing, coupled with the improved performance of his teammates, signal a potentially brighter future for the Iwata factory. The upcoming qualifying and race sessions at Silverstone will be critical in validating these early promising signs and determining Yamaha's true competitive standing in the highly contested 2025 MotoGP season. The collaborative data analysis among the Yamaha riders will be instrumental in further optimizing the M1 package, aiming to close the gap to their rivals and mount a stronger challenge for race victories and the championship title.

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