Valentino Rossi conducted an interesting interview with MotoGP.com about what was being done by him and his team welcomed MotoGP 2020. Rossi stressed that he talked a lot with Yamaha engineers to try to detect the origin of his lack of speed on M1 2019. He pointed to two aspects of the motorbike. Rossi talks about YZR M1-2020: Not like before!
“For me, the first problem is electronics, especially in acceleration, but also in the engine brake. We changed the ECU (Magneti Marelli), which is used by all teams, but it seems that Japanese Yamaha engineers are suffering because of this ECU, because it is as if they are speaking in another language. “Rossi said.
The engine lacks Top Speed
“Second is the engine. We can add power, machine evolution, but need to spend money and time. I have a problem that I suffer more from Maverick, for example; “My body size is different from other Yamaha riders, and it seems I need something different in aerodynamics and things like that because I suffer more in terms of top speed,” said the 40-year-old man.
Lose by Vinales and Quartararo
This year, Valentino was defeated by Maverick Vinales and by debutant Fabio Quartararo, two riders who, in the opinion of the Italians were riding better than him and were in better condition, apparently with the balance of the bike this year they were better, actually Maverick and Quartararo were very strong. I think many people are afraid that Quartararo can compete, but not this way.
Opinions about Quartararo
For Rossi, the fact that Fabio is from Moto2 and has no prior experience with MotoGP has helped him quickly above M1: “He has started from blank paper. Sometimes the experience is good, but sometimes the experience is not so much help. When the Rookie racer riding a motorcycle well was very good, he did the braking technique well, but I also think that he is an unusual talent, because this year he did something very special. It is important for Yamaha that Quartararo must continue to race with the M1 in the future. ”
M1 2020? Similar development of Honda and Ducati!
Valentino Rossi also talked about the future and the Yamaha 2020, one of the reasons Yamaha manufacturers changed all test models was to try to emulate Honda and Ducati models. “We talk a lot with Japanese engineers, they seem to understand that they need to do this step, but they need more money and more engineers to try to narrow the gap. It seems that if we continue our usual development, we will never be able to compete with the Honda da Ducati, we need something bigger, “Rossi said.
The point is that the development of the M1 2020 is done in an unusual way. Unlike in the past, trying to compensate for the way done by Honda and Ducati.
Yamaha’s New Policy
Valentino was pleased with Yamaha’s new policy of allowing him and Vinales to test the 2020 motorbike at the Brno test last August. Something that hasn’t happened for years, and the results? “I think in the Sepang test, in February, we can better understand the potential of the M1 2020. It is important to test the prototype of a new bike that already exists in Brno because we have tested it twice the motorcycle for 2020, and then we know where it the good and the worst side”.
M1 2020 Still Half Process
Regarding the M1 2020 future, Rossi hopes to be very different from the prototype tested at Brno. Because the current prototype is basically still half a process. But the Yamaha team has collected data and mileage on new motorbikes, and according to him, there is another team that works like this as well. Because that is also the way the Ducati and Honda teams work. This is a sign that Yamaha can be strong next year. Because the way the development of the bike is the same as Honda and Ducati did so far.
Start Working with David Munoz
Yamaha will do two very important tests after the Valencia GP, namely the Valencia test after the race and Jerez, and from there they can see something. Personally, in these two tests Rossi must concentrate more on working with David Munoz, his new chief mechanic, because he wants to change things differently, for Rossi these two tests will be very important to make teamwork in a real way.
The Future of Rossi?
Finally, there is an inevitable question about what will happen in his future after Rossi’s contract expires in 2020, Valentino replied: “Everything will depend on the results. If I am stronger than this year and if I can fight for the podium, I will try to continue. If not … You”ll see. Everything will depend on my speed, “concluded the nine-time world champion.
