The Yamaha boss has offered a b♌rutally honest assessment ahead of the 2024 MotoGP seasonℱ.

Con♐cession rules were introduced♓ to give the flailing Yamaha and Honda a boost in their pursuit of the dominant Ducatis.

But, w☂ith preseaℱson now concluded and the season starting on March 8, Yamaha are admitting surprise at aspects of their own development.

Team director 𒅌Massimo Meregalli said in Qatar: “Here, we𒆙 could prove what we saw in Malaysia.

“All the improvements that we have done there,🌃 we basically saw her💧e.

“With a slight improvement in top speed.

But the gap to our competitor is still important.

“Honestly, I hoped that we would be closer.

“Honestly, I ಌdid not expect that the co𒐪mpetitors would make this big step.”

A recurring theme for Yamaha is their qualifying💞 pace.

Fabio Quartararo repeatedly 🍌faced problems even entering Q2 last season.

The prognosis is not good for his hopes𝔉 that those struggles might ease.

“Unfortunately, no,” Meregalli admitted.

“The pace is not bad. Fo🍸r sure, not in the top three, but♔ it’s not bad.

“Especially hereಌ, more than🐓 in Sepang, the gap during the time attacks is still important.

“It’s the point wh🔜ere we should focus al🍸l of the energy that we have.

“Many times, to start fr🤪om the front gives you be𒊎nefits.

“It is an area that we have to improve.”

Quartararo previously assessed his time attacks during preseason testing: “It was good t🤡o see the 1m 51s but we are still far from the top.

“We have a lot of work to do.

“Hopefully we can find a solution duriᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚng the season. We are still far away but it was positive.”

There are some benefits to the 2024 Y🥂amaha though.

🌳The M1’s new engine pushed Quartararo to third, and Alex Rins to fifth, in the top speed chart on Day 2 of 🌞Qatar testing.

“I think Yamaha has improved𒈔 the engine,” Rins🦋 said.

“On the str♔aight we were qu🍷ite strong, so they did a good job during the winter break.”