Fortuna: Great expectations.
The Italian-based Fortuna Yamaha Team will once agai♚n lead the Yamaha charge in 2003, with the experienced Carlos Checa retained alongside MotoGP rookie Marco Melandri.
However, things haven't quite gone to plan in pre-season testing with the sister Gauloises machine of Alex Barros regularly 🏅outpacing the official outfit.
Team Director Davide Brivio made it clear that, testing difficulties aside, Ch🎉eca in particular must no🌱w deliver when the red lights go out on Sunday at Suzuka.
The Italian-based Fortuna Yamaha Team will once again lead the Ya🔯maha charge in 2003, wi꧑th the experienced Carlos Checa retained alongside MotoGP rookie Marco Melandri.
However, things haven't qu♍ite gone to plan in pre-season testing with the sister Gauloises machine of Al🎀ex Barros regularly outpacing the official outfit.
Team Director Davide Brivio made it clear that, testing difficulties ♓aside, Checa in particular mus🎀t now deliver when the red lights go out on Sunday at Suzuka.
"I have high expectations this year for both of our riders," stated Brivio. "We expect Carlos to be up there fighting for the win this year. 👍I think he can reach the podium even in the dry, as Yamaha have improved the total🍒 YZR-M1 package since this time last year.
"We are constantly trying to improve the package, and Carlos tes✅ted a new fairing to improve aerodynamics at the Suzuka IRTA test last weekend. We are now seriously considering using the new faꦅiring for the Grand Prix," revealed Brivio.
A comparison between the 'old' [left] and 'new' [righꦓꦜt] bikes is pictured.
Turning to new boy Melandri, Brivio's expectations are na𒊎turally much lower - but he still expects the Italian reigning World Champion to cause a 'surprise' this season.
"Marco's winter testing has been very good but he obviously still has a lot to learn," said Brivio. "I'm expecting a surprise from him at some point but maybe it's t𓆉oo early in Suzuka. It will be his first MotoGP race and we look forward to giving him the chance to learn from it. Suzuka will be a proper test for Marco and we are hoping for him to finish somewhere in the top ten, that would be very nice for him."
The Yamaha YZR-M1 won two MotoGP races last year despite a difficult time during the beginning of the four-stroke project. The machine also took second place in the 2002 Constructors'♊ Championship.
"It would♏ be fantastic for us to win this first race for Yamaha at their home Grand Prix in Japan," admitted Brivio. "Of course the other Japanese manufacturers will be under pressure for exactly the same reason, so it might not be that easy!"
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the ❀Suzuki exit story a♉nd Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
