Valentino Rossi to assess longer life Yamaha motor

Fresh from his stunning last gasp victory in yesterday’s classic Catalunya MotoGP race, Valentino Rossi is scheduled to test a revised Yamaha YZR-M1 motor at the Montmelo track today.

Rossi, who produced a breathtaking overtaking on Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo to clinch his 99th Grand Prix victory, is evaluating a new motor designed for increased mileage. Yamaha wants the Italian to assess the in-line four-cylinder engine ahead of new engine rules that will come into force from the Czech Republic GP in Brno onwards.

A rider will only be allowed to use five engines for the final seven races and any technical failure will result in a 10-point penalty, which could be critical with Rossi, Lorenzo and Ducati’s Casey Stoner all tied on 106-points after six races.

A source told MCN: “There’s a revised spec motor to test with the new engine rule in mind for Brno onwards. It’s designed for longer life but they want to make sure that in increasing durability that there’s been no significant loss in performance.”

Rossi is concerned about the impact of a 10-point penalty, claiming it is too severe punishment.

He said: “It is better like Formula One when you start at the back of the grid because you can still have chance to gain your points on the track. But in this way you make the race but it is useless because you lose ten points. It is not a great idea.”