Sepang MotoGP Test: Quartararo: Aprilia, Honda, Suzuki made 'massive step'

Reigning MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo impressed by 'massive step' from Aprilia, Honda and Suzuki - 'expected more' developments for his Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Sepang MotoGP test 5 February 2022
Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Sepang MotoGP test 5 February 2022
© Gold and Goose

Ducati were 'already super-fast' but Aprilia, Honda and Suzuki have made 'a🎉 massive step'.

That was the verdict of Yamaha's reigning MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo at the end of the seas🤡on-opening Sepang test.

The Frenchman finished the rain interrupted two-days in Malaysia with the seventh fastest lap time (+0.182s) behind three Ducatis, two Aprilias and𒆙 a Suzuki.

Aprilia, the only manufacturer on the current grid 💙without a MotoGP win, was perhaps the biggꦦest surprise.

After riding 💃for part 🌃of the Shakedown, Aleix Espargaro and Quartararo's former team-mate Maverick Vinales stayed top of the timesheets on day one of the Official test, then took second and fifth respectively on day two.

"They have two riders riding super-fast," Quartararo said of Aprilia. "It’s true they made morꦰe days [here] but the bike▨ is working super well.

"If you check top speed, it’s super-fast. I was behind Aleix for half a lap and the turning was a lot. I’𝄹m impressed by them. For me Aprilia, Honda and Suzuki made a massive step.ไ"

Quartararo added: "Ducati were already super-fast at the end of t🌠he season. But t♔he three that impressed me more are [Aprilia, Honda and Suzuki].

"To be honest I don’t think we [Yamaha] made a step like that, by far. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t competitivꦜe. It just means the others made a bigger step than us.

"We are struggling in some areas. It's strange to see I was struggling more with new tyres. Normally the 🥂time attack is one of my favourite things and I knew I could improve a lot more. I know the others made a big step in that area."

Quartararo was the only Yamaha🥂 rider inside the top 20 on the final timesheet but expects new team-mate Franco Morbidelli (24th) to be much closer at t𒊎he coming Mandalika test.

"You always want someone that pushes you to the limit,🎃" Quartararo said. "Franco is going to be fast in the short future. In Mandalika he will be much closer.

"In the first part of last season when Maverick was there, I le✤arned from him. The first race in Qatar, I saw what he did and I pushed to apply what I missed.

"Then Asseꦦn was the first time we both pushed ourselves to the limits. Assen for me was the most interesti🔯ng qualifying. Even if I finished second because I made a mistake, I never pushed myself that much to the limit.

"So I think it’s helping [to have other fast Yamahas] but I don’t need someone to push me to go fastဣ."

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