Andrea Dovizioso seeking smoother Yamaha acceleration

Andrea Dovizioso believes the key to being a consistent podium challenger at Yamaha in 2012 will depend on how much he can improve acceleration and rear stability on the new YZR-M1 1000cc machine.

Improving acceleration performance has been a key target for Yamaha’s technical group in the winter and Monster Tech 3 Team rider Dovizioso has spent much of testing concentrating in that area.

The Italian finished yesterday’s final test session in Jerez with the seventh quickest time, his best lap of 1.39.860 leaving him 1.080s behind Casey Stoner at the top of the rankings.

The tight Jerez layout was a tough examination of Yamaha’s acceleration and rear stability and the former Repsol Honda rider said: “The main problem is the wheelie and the pumping and this is where we have to improve. It is the characteristic of Yamaha and it depends on the track.

“In Sepang the wheelie is not a big problem but in Valencia and this track where you have a strong acceleration from low speed, the wheelie is a much bigger issue. But in other areas we are better than Honda and Yamaha is fast because we can push a lot more on braking and entry to the corner.

“But we have to improve on the exit because we are fighting with the bike too much. We made some progress in Jerez and this was very positive.”

For a seven page round-up from the Jerez test, see the March 28 issue of MCN.