MotoGP: Mixed feelings in Yamaha camp after Jerez test

The Yamaha MotoGP team have come away form a one-day test at the Jerez circuit following last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix with mixed feelings, with Maverick Viñales pleased with the progress he made while Valentino Rossi admitted that they still have major problems to overcome.

With both the riders suffering in Sunday’s race – and being squarely beaten by satellite rookie Johann Zarco on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine – Viñales says that a new chassis he tested seems to have given them a step forwards.

“During the Jerez test we tested different things on the bike. The new chassis works quite well. We compared the same set-up from yesterday with the same tyres, to see if it was working good. Today we had a totally different result compared to yesterday, we had a really good pace.

“Anyway, we have to start looking forward to Le Mans, because I think that will be a good track for us, especially with my riding style, and we can do a really good job. There were positive and negative points when testing the new chassis, we have to check and analyse and then we will see. I tried the different style front tyre and I feel good with nearly all the tyres, so for me it‘s alright. If they want to go back to the old compounds, for me it‘s going to be OK.”

However, on the other side of the garage teammate and championship leader Valentino Rossi had a more difficult day after admitting that the new chassis didn’t give him the improvements it gave Viñales.

“We tried something different with the setting, but unfortunately it didn‘t work in the race. Today‘s results we‘re trying a more normal setting, unfortunately the new stuff, also the new chassis, doesn‘t work better. In this test we tried some different things and I think that we understand something important to fix the problem for the future. I tried the harder carcass tyre and for me it didn‘t make a big difference, but I prefer the one with the harder carcass.”