MotoGP: Monster Yamaha rookies impress on 2017 debut

While headlines at last week’s opening test of the 2017 MotoGP season were firmly on factory Movistar Yamaha duo of Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi, they weren’t the only Yamaha riders to impress in Sepang, with an incredible performance from the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rookie duo of Johann Zarco and Jonas Folger finishing the three days in 11th and 15th on combined times.

Adapting well to the 2016-spec M1 machines ridden last year by Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, the pair completed an impressive switchover, with double Moto2 champion Zarco delighted with his pace despite admitting that riding the 250bhp machine had taken its toll on him.

“We closed the test in a positive way and I am happy about what we managed to accomplish in Malaysia, even if it was necessary to rest my body a bit on the last day because of the energy that I had spent in the past two days. When we put the last new tyre in at almost the end of the last day, I was able to get under the two-minute lap mark which I am happy about because it was a target for me. We can see that many riders did this also but I am one of them so I am certainly pleased and now I am eager to see what we can do at Phillip Island.”

His sentiments were echoed by fellow rookie Jonas Folger, who said afterwards that completing a race run had been a valuable exercise for him.

“I feel positive about the test and once again I learnt a lot of very important information. The Tech3 team and I focused on running a race simulation and we ran used tyres on the Yamaha with a heavy full load. We were more than satisfied with the outcome because I was really consistent and able to set similar times even when the tyre dropped. I gained a lot of knowledge from this long run, especially with regards to the engine mapping and how each different option works.

“Now we have a lot of significant data that we can use at the next MotoGP test in Australia, which I am really looking forward to. Also, I have to say thanks to the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team for their great work over these three days.”