THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Michael Scott on Yamaha’s new dawn and planned resurgence that has seen investment into the future at the expense of Valentino Rossi
Slip-sliding away for the past three seasons or more, Yamaha have pulled out all the stops to try to regain their former prominence as more than just another Honda rival. And have elbowed Rossi aside in the process. The triple-tuning-fork marque’s last championship was back in 2015, with Jorge Lorenzo being the only rider to defeat Marquez in the premier class.
Return of the champ
Jorge is back with Yamaha for 2020, in a surprise about-face after his equally surprising retirement triggered by horrible struggles in the first of two projected years on the Repsol Honda. It is only as a test rider, with some expected wild card outings – a fascinating prospect, for his smooth style is a perfect marriage with Yamaha’s M1.
Yamaha’s problems have been a combination of minor weaknesses that have all added up. Margins are minuscule in modern MotoGP: 18 inside one second at Qatar tests mean, as Rossi said: “It’s more like Moto2.”
Power struggles
The bike lacks ultimate power and thus speed and acceleration, but its sweet handling and high corner speed compensate. These characteristics come along with the in-line four engine, which only Yamaha and Suzuki use in a field otherwise fully occupied by 90-degree V4s.
The reasons are technically complex, but while the power deficit is intrinsic with such factors as internal friction and pumping losses, the compact dimensions and consequent mass centralisation pay dividends.
Not fast enough
But this year’s bike has clearly found some improvements. It’s still not as fast as the Ducatis, but enough closer for Maverick Viñales, who topped the tests, to remark: “It’s still not enough but there’s a good progression. I’m really happy.”
As well as better power and response come the usual chassis improvements (although Yamaha’s carbon-fibre swingarm is still a work in progress); plus a new hole-shot device aping that pioneered by Ducati, compressing the suspension to work against start-line wheelies.
Key personnel
Yamaha’s strongest suit, however, is personnel. After the dire 2018 season came a major reshuffle in factory racing team staff for last year. This has been reflected for 2020 in a significant adjustment of influence within the official Monster-Yamaha team pit and beyond, over at the newlast-year Petronas satellite team. Yamaha already have the greatest rider strength of any factory, both at the sharp end and in depth. Now it has been rejigged to make the most of it. In short, Rossi’s power has been gently curtailed, Viñales’ rather less subtly boosted, and Fabio Quartararo has been given an inside track.
Changing dynamic
The factory team boasts not only the redoubtable multi-champion Rossi, 41 last month and still never to be underrated; but also Viñales. Last year, the Spaniard emerged as the stronger and more successful of the pair, with two – almost three – wins to Rossi’s none. Over the winter, Viñales put his foot down. If Yamaha wouldn’t make him number one rider he’d leave at the end of this year, with tempting possibilities at both Suzuki and Ducati. He had grown increasingly tired of being stuck with Rossi’s development direction, which clearly didn’t work for him. One hissy fit last year saw him dispense with revered ex-Lorenzo crew chief Ramon Forcada. Then he turned on the real target. Valentino.
Out with the old...
Yamaha in turn bit the bullet with Rossi, as they negotiated contracts for 2021/22. There would be no place for him in the 2021 factory squad, though if he wants there will still be a factory bike and factory support (how this will happen remains to be seen, although Petronas is the obvious destination). In his place – Fabio Quartararo. This not only prevented the 20-year-old Frenchman from being tempted away, but also secured a rider who (like Lorenzo and later Zarco) made an ideal marriage with their M1 from the start. In fact, his first season was more sensational than either of those. Completely unfazed by the perceived machine weaknesses that troubled Rossi and Viñales, he racked up six pole positions and seven podiums.
Marquez’ biggest threat?
Quartararo is now expected to be the strongest challenger to Marquez in 2020. And beyond.
His Petronas Yamaha team-mate Franco Morbidelli (yet another Moto2 champion) was overshadowed in the Malaysian-backed team’s first season, and for 2020 it will be Quartararo who gets the top-spec factory bike so expect him to be at least second-best Yamaha rider in the championship. And possibly the best.
But his selection has another level of future-proofing for Yamaha, in the form of past alumni Lorenzo. Already last year pundits observed the similarity in riding style between the precocious French rookie and the silkysmooth Spanish triple-champion, who described his years with Yamaha as “the happiest in my career.”
It’s time to strike
Both Lorenzo and Quartararo rely on gentle braking and high corner speed, which in turn minimise the adverse effect of the M1’s deficit in acceleration and exploit its strengths.
Now, having reassessed his decision to turn his back on MotoGP, Lorenzo is on strength as a test rider. His input will be of maximum benefit to Quartararo. The coming season is looking intriguing. Honda are on the back foot, Ducati in turn strongly challenging. And Yamaha ready to elbow Suzuki aside and get back where it has always belonged. With or without Rossi.
● ‘18 inside one second at Qatar... as Rossi said: “It’s more like Moto2”’