ROSSI’S NEW WEAPON
Radical shake-up at Yamaha
‘It looks like something has changed now’ VALENTINO ROSSI
Valentino Rossi says radical changes within the Yamaha squad for 2019 are the key to a return to success. Coming after repeated calls from the nine-time world champion, the changes see not only a new management structure but a closer working relationship between the team’s bases in Japan and Italy. Rossi’s comments came as he joined team-mate Maverick Viñales in the Indonesian capital Jakarta to pull the covers off their new Monster Energy-sponsored machine just before the first preseason test at Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit where they’ll make the final call on the 2019 spec of engine. Speaking to MCN, Rossi said he was relieved Yamaha have finally listened to his calls for a change after two long seasons struggling to challenge for the title as they battled with rear grip, acceleration and tyre life issues.
He said: “For me it’s very important, because in the past our opponents have altered the way they work. Ducati especially have improved, put more people to work in different areas and tried to organise the team more like a F1 team. We have to follow them, and it looks like something has changed now in Yamaha.
“We have some new Japanese engineers but also some Italians and Europeans at headquarters in Monza and it will be interesting to see how it works. There’s been some changes in the team, too, with mechanics and crew chiefs, and that might help.
“I think we can be strong, but we have to wait and see because the work is hard. We suffered in the second half of the last season in particular, and it’s not easy to go back to where we were, to recover, in a short period of time.”
The changes for the year ahead see a major reworking of the team’s internal structures, says boss Lin Jarvis, as key personnel are replaced, moved or supplemented with additional staff.
He explained: “Last year was a long season and a hard season, but we realised what the problems were early on and we started working hard to rectify them. The strong end to the season came about because of hard work in Japan. We realised that we need to be more aggressive with how we work and that we need to collaborate more with outside help. “Sometimes, you can end up with an island mentality among different development groups, with the engine group over here, chassis over there, electronics over that way, when we should all be pulling together. The new project leader, Sumi-san, is the former chassis leader so he knows how it works and he’s very much a group-orientated person who understands the importance of everyone working together.” However, the proof of Yamaha’s new strategy won’t be revealed until Rossi and Viñales take to the track in anger for the first time in Sepang today (Wednesday). The crucial test for the Japanese firm will see them trial two different specs of engine designed to combat their previous woes. Following the test they will select the spec which works best and that will be sealed for the season ahead.