Fabio Quartararo insists that Yamaha are “not close” to solvi꧅ng their single l🎶ap speed.

The 2021 MotoGP champion was 10th-faste𒐪st on Monday, the first of two days p🌟reseason testing in Qatar.

A new year has brought new ﷺbuoyancy around Yaꦺmaha but their star rider continues to deliver blunt realism about their progress.

Questioned about the ‘dino wings’ aero and the new exhaust he used on Monday, Quartararo explained: “🌜It’s really important for us to find the way to make the bike more smooth, and to find grip on the time attacks.

“That’s where we are losing a lot.

“The pace is not too bad.

“We are making steps forꦏward, making big changes on the bik💞e.

“Hopefully we can find a way, really soon.”

Asked if significant progress could be made on Tuesday, the final day of preseason testing🐓 before the 2▨024 MotoGP begins on March 8, Quartararo was brutally honest.

“No, we are not clos🌺e. Not close to achieving it,” he said.

“We havꦐe to be calm. There is still a lot o𒁃f work to do.

“I am really motivated. I try to stay calm.

“The team is working a lot. I don’t know when.

“But this is the most important part of the bike - the rear grip, especia﷽lly for one lap.”

Yamaha, who have added Alex Rins to their ri🎀der duo in Franco Morbidelli’s place, hope to arres🌄t the dreadful slide experienced last season.

Massimo Bartolini, their new🌳 technical director recruited from Ducati, is widely considered to be an inspired co♑up behind-the-scenes.

But Yamaha know that may only have months (or weeks) to convince Quartararo that t🌟hey can become competitive again in order to keep him long-term.

Quartararo’s contract expires at the end of this se🥀ason and he will need to see significant strides in Yamaha’s develop𓂃ment before committing to a new deal.