Phillip Island MotoGP Test: Valentino Rossi to race '2015' Yamaha
At the conclusion of the penultimatꩲe MotoGP pre-season test at Phillip Island, Valentino Rossi revealed 🎃he will start the new season using the 'standard' Yamaha, similar to his 2015 bike.
Rossi and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo have been conducting back-to-b🌊ack tests between a lightly updated version of the M1 and a more radical design - including a different chassis - created using ea🅷rly data for the new Michelin tyres.
"I prefer the 2015 because I'm faster, but especially when I ride I feel better. Especially the front," Rossi explained. "With the 2016 I have a bit more issue in the entry to the corner. I'm not so far with the lap time [on the 2016], but anyway I am a little bit😼 slower.
"So I tꦿhink it ඣis done. We will race with the bike more similar to the 2015."
Asked if the𓂃 2016 might have greater long-term potentia♋l, for example if the front feeling was improved, Rossi added:
"This is possible but is a lon𝓰g story maybe. In fact we tried🎉 also today to modify and work to understand and give to Yamaha some important advice and data for the future.
"But at this moment we ha⛦ve to concentrate on the present and with the standard [bike] I'm fast, so I think we wil🅠l continue with that."
Rossi was fif♊th fastest on the fﷺinal day of testing in Australia, but the top Yamaha rider and just 0.277s behind pace setter Marc Marquez (Honda).
Choosing which machine to race was one of two 'question marks' team director Massimo Meregalli hoped to solve in Australia. The other 🍰was to conduct their first race simulation using the Michelin tyres and new unified ECU, but the wet-dry weather prevented long runs.
The last pre-season test will be held in Qatar from March 2-4, with 𒈔the first race of the year at the same venue on March 20.
Rossi, 37, lost out on ꦏa tenth world title by just 5 points to Lorenzo last season. The Doctor's decision to use the '2015' bike will also be music to the ears of Tech 3 riders Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro, who are running last year's machines.
UPDATE: Jorge Lorenzo has also chosen to start the season on the '2015' version.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Mar꧂quez’s injury issues.
