Fabio Quattararo understands why Yamaha failed to make ‘big progress’ despite finishing second at the Barcelona test.
Following last weekend’s chaotic Catalan Grand Prix, the teams returned to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the second test of the season, with VR46 Fabio Di Giannantonio winning.
Two programs were booked but drivers were unable to take to the tracks due to rain in the afternoon.
In the end, KTM’s Pedro Acosta clocked the day’s fastest time of 1:38.767, just 0.064 seconds faster than Quartararo’s best effort. Tech3 star Innea Bastianini was third in 1:38.884.
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Fabio Quattararo knows exactly why Yamaha hasn’t made ‘big progress’.
Speaking after the meeting. Every quarter Yamaha admitted it had not made ‘huge progress’ despite setting the second fastest lap.
Honda ready to join Quattro For 2027 and 2028, the track’s top grip contributed to his times, saying the bike’s top speed was ‘weak’.
Quatararo said. Speed weekI wouldn’t call it a big improvement, but we are simply trying to improve our feel for the bike, we want to get more consistency because the grip on the track was amazing today.
“I set that lap time without pushing it – the way we do it in qualifying. The track offers a lot of grip, which is good, but the top speed was poor.”
“No, it was an old engine with a lot of mileage already. You could tell from the top speed that it was slow.”
“In the end, we tested everything. There are always things you want to try and repeat again – like we did in Jerez. Just to make sure.”
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Meanwhile, Torak Razgatlioglu, who rides for Yamaha satellite team Pramac, was satisfied with his own Barcelona test.
Despite finishing more than a second behind Acosta, Razgatlioglu was positive about the team’s progress.
it has. Speed weekI’m satisfied because we’ve improved a lot, especially with the middle tire. We’ve made a big step forward, especially when cornering – the bike feels a little better.
“Accelerating out of corners is easier because the improved turnout allows me to pick up speed earlier, so I’m running very consistent lap times – 40.0, 40.1, 40.0 on medium tires and riding solo.
“If I’m following someone, I can manage a maximum of 39.7. But I’ve achieved the same lap time on the soft tyres.”
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