Of course, Quartararo was on his way to a second MotoGP title last year when, roughly mid-way through the championship he had more than a 90 point lead over second place. What followed was a remarkable turn-around by Ducati and, specifically, rider Pecco Bagnaia.
Arguably, the Yamaha was already significantly inferior to the Ducati during the first half of the 2022 campaign, despite some teething issues with the Ducati earlier in the year. It was Quartararo’s talent (while other Yamaha riders languished far behind) that made the difference. That talent wasn’t enough as Bagnaia found his stride later in the year.
Whatever the Yamaha’s positive attributes, it was woefully down on horsepower and top speed to the Ducatis (and several other manufacturers’ bikes) last year. Yamaha has hired a former Ferrari F1 engineer to address engine power, but there are so many more variables to the success of the Yamaha in 2023.
Not least of those variables is aerodynamics. Here is where Yamaha may stumble … fatally. You need a motorcycle with low drag on the straights to increase top speed, combined with electronics that optimize traction and reduce wheelies. In the corners, you would like significant down-force that increases traction and corner speed. This is tricky stuff to say the least.
The last time Quartararo tested a version of the 2023 engine, he was no faster on the straights than he had been with the existing, slow bike. We won’t know exactly what the problem was, but that new bike featured aerodynamics that likely increased drag on the front straight.
Where do you go for a deep understanding of, and expertise in, aerodynamics in motorsport? The answer is Formula One. This is exactly where KTM has gone, utilizing their connection to Red Bull and its extensive experience in F1.
Quartararo’s phenomenal performance on corner entry braking and mid-corner speed must also be preserved in the process of modifying the 2023 M1 race bike. More variables.
We will have a 2023 MotoGP preview article published soon on MD where we will discuss all of the teams and their riders and offer our opinion on their chances for success in the new year. In the meantime, important tests are occurring at Sepang this week that will offer some clues where Yamaha stands, as well as the other manufacturers.
After two days of the “shakedown test”, that allows only factory test riders and MotoGP rookies to participate, Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow has been fastest, and set a top speed that slightly exceeds the highest top speed set by any Yamaha rider during the Sepang MotoGP weekend last year.
The real test comes when the factory riders gather at Sepang this Friday for a three-day test, which MD will report on.
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