After the disappointment of losing out on this year’s title to Francesco Bagnaia on Sunday,ꦡ Quartararo signalled his intent by being the first race rider on track ꦫthis morning.

A series of new parts were available for his M1, but the main attraction was the latest engine upgrades, e💃xpected to build further onꦛ the promise shown at the Misano test in September.

Instead, Quartararo was perplex🍨ed to find no power or extra speed&🧜nbsp;over the much-maligned 2022 engine.

“I'm surprised because actually this engine was supposed to be𝄹 a little bit faster than the one we tested in ൩Misano and Barcelona [but] I found it was the same as [the 2022 engine] two days ago,” said Quartararo, who had been fourth in the race and was ninth fastest at the test.

“Especially on the qualifying lap. We compared the speed and it was the same. So we have to analyse what happened because we had two tests - Misano Barcelona - then Cal [Crutchlow] di🃏d Motegi and Jerez and they saw a difference on the [new]⛎ engine.

“But right now, there was no difference𒆙. So we have to analyse really we🐟ll what happened.”

Asked if he was disappoꦇinted, the 2021 world champion replꦛied: “Yeah, of course! It's not the way I wanted to end the year, but at the end something went wrong.

“It's not possible that in Misano and Barcelona✱ we felt an improvement and today there is nothing."

Quartararo set a top speed of 327.4km/h, compared with a Tu🅰esday best of 335.4 by Bagnaia's Ducati. The Frenchman's average top speed best five) during the race weekend had been 328.2꧂km/h with a peak of 330.5.

Quartararo's team-mate Frꦰanco Morbidelli set 325.8km/h on his way to 14th on the test timesheets.

“I gue𝐆ss for Franco ꦗ[Morbidelli] it was the same because I see he's also quite near the bottom in the top speed," Quartararo continued.

“I had only one slipstream, so that's why I went 327, but when you check [differencꦇe to] the top guys in front I think it's quite high so. We have to analyse.”

Morbidelli confirmed: "It has been strange because we were expecting more power&nb𒊎sp;from the engine and that didn't really happen. We need to understand well why."

Quartararo: 'A problem for sure, weird feeling'

Speaking to pit lane reporter Simon Crafar earlier in the day, Yamaha team ꦿdir🏅ector Massimo Meregalli revealed test rider Crutchlow had called the latest engine spec 'a rocket'.

Rather than pondering a return to thꦓe previous 2023 engine spec, from Misano, Quartararo ♎reiterated that something ‘weird’ must have happened today.

“Normally this engine has more horsepower and in Jerez [a week ago] Cal tried it and it was cle🧸arly better. But right now [here] the top speed with last year is the same," Quartararo said.

“So there is a problem f𝔉or sure! I mean not in the engine, but something happened that we didn't h𝔍ave this extra power that we were expecting.

“It was not a wasted [day] but, a weird🐠 feeling I would say. At Misano 🀅when I went through the gears I felt that the engine had something. Today, no!”

Crutchlow previously revealed the new engine had already gone t☂hrough four different development stages even b♛efore the Valencia version.

Quartararo confirmed that he had only one new engine spec availabl🎉e today.

Turning 🌞to the other new Yamaha parts on offer, aerodynamics an✃d chassis, Quartararo was reluctant to offer a clear verdict.

“With the aero package you feel the difference, but you can't really say if it's better or not,” he explained. “Because with the bigger wing you have less wheelie, but you don't know if you lose more in💎 top speed than [you gain] in acceleration on braking.”

Quartararo also tried some rear seat wings: “I think it can be sometꦡhing interesting. At least it was not worse and my feeling was quite good with it.”

And the frame?

“I tried two runs in the𒉰 beginning. Was really similar. Not worse.♐ Not better… basically the same.”

There were only two Yamaha riders on track at Valencia with Crutchlow not testing and the satel♑lite RNF team switching to Aprilia for 2023.

Th𝄹e next Mot🌼oGP test will be held at Sepang in February.