McPint talks Fabulous Fabio
MotoGP is back and there are big changes in the Yamaha garage
MotoGP testing kicks off this week and I can’t wait. I love the fact that all the MotoGP guys have been out wobbling around on fancy road bikes to get ready for it. That’s got my attention. Watching Viñales warming up his M1, Petrucci doing laps on his motocross bike and Pol lapping on a beautiful RCV road bike. But they’re all hands-on and not behaving like divas, rocking up in private jets. They seem pretty grounded. Pol is going to be exciting on
‘The guys have been wobbling around on their own machines’
the Honda and there will be a lot of pressure on Fabio Quartararo going to the factory Yamaha team. He’s quite the jack the lad, but inside he’ll be turning over. When his head hits his pillow at night, he’ll be thinking ‘F***, I’ve got some big boots to fill!”
As far as Valentino is concerned there’s no pressure. I was looking at pics of him at his ranch, flattracking absolutely sideways – living the dream. Sometimes you can do that much testing that you talk yourself out of it. A carbon strip on the outside of your swingarm isn’t going to make a big difference when you’re on the brakes into the hairpin at Qatar and battling for the win. Every rider will want to come out fighting, but when there is a second separating the top 20 you can look massively average, when in reality you’re not going too bad. It all feels a bit unchartered, especially with someone like Mir who is a totally under the radar world champion. Don’t get me wrong, he did a fantastic job and was so consistent, but it’s not like he’s the overwhelming favourite for this year. It’s wide open.