Alex Rins: Yamaha “strong on the straights” but “still far from the top”
Alex Rins says Yamaha’s latest engine is “strong on the straights𝕴” but that overall “we're still qui🌜te far from the top.”
New Monster Yamaha rider 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Alex Rins briefly featured as high as fourth on the timesheets during the final hours of MotoGP pre-season testing in Qatar.
The former Suzuki and LCR Honda race winner slashed 1.5s from his day one time to 🅺finish 1.151s fro🌄m leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati).
But Rins was still pushed all ♓the way down to 16th, two spots behind team-mate Quartararo, due to improvements by others.
“To♏day, we focused more on improving our set-up, trying to put the bike higher, lower, longer, shorter, to understand where we can improve, if there is a margin or n✨ot. And, honestly, I made a step forward compared to day one," Rins said.
“We're still quite far from the top. I'm doing 1'52s, and Fabio is also 🍸1s from the fastest rider, so we still have to work a lot to reduce this gap.
“If we want to fight for the victory, we need to work even harder. But I think our way of working is the correct one, so we a♔re ready to start.”
On the plus side, the Yamaha pair were ranked third and fifth on the top speed charts, underlining the step𓆉 made by the n🐽ew M1 engine.
“Well, overall, I think Yamaha has improved the engine. On the straight we were quite strong, so they did a good job dur🌜ing the winter break,” Rins ౠconfirmed.
Team director Massimo Meregalli admitted🐲 the team hoped to be closer heading into the new campaign.
“In a way we are satisfied, because all the new 💯materials we introduced this year gave us a boost in performance," Meregalli said.
“Most of the time the comments of our two riders matched🍌, and it's fundamental to have them work in the same direction. But we still have wor🐼k to do.
“The gap to our competitors is still im⭕portant, and I had hoped to be closer.
"I didn't expect it, because in Sepang we improved our best lap by 0.5s and here by even💙 more. But, as I said, it's not enough, so we will keep working.
“Our pace is not bad – not top 3 yet, but not bad – but the time attack remains our main area of improvement because good starting positions are a big advantagℱe.”
Yamaha suffered its first winless MotoGP season since 2003 💜last year.
Finding more rear grip and extending tyre life is now seen as the priority for the 20🌠24 M1.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen𒁏 Valentino Rossiꦛ come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
