By Peter McLaren

Yamaha has extracted five more horsepower - or 'ponies' as engineering general manager Masao Furusawa calls them - from its YZR-M1 since the end of last season, but believes another three or four will be needed for th♋e 2008 Qatar season opener.

After witnessing an impressive test for star rider Valentino Rossi at Sepang last week, Furusawa spoke exclusively to mahbx.com about Yamaha's progress since last season.

"So far, so good. The bike has changed very much since the Valencia race and it looks like Valentino is very happy - especially with the pneumatic-valve engine, new electronic co🔯❀ntrol system and new tyres," said Furusawa.

Rossi's two main 'problems' last season, as he fought in 🍨vain to prevent Ducati's Casey Stoner lifting the world championship, were tyre and engine related.

The response has been a switch by the Italian to Bridges🌠tones and a decision by Yamaha to concentrate on the pneumatic-valve engine, seen on and off ꧋during the closing rounds of 2007.

"Last year I would say we had too many en𓃲gine options - mechanical springs and pneumatic springs - so this year we have just focused on the pneumatic-valve engine and this means we have more spare time to set-up the bike," admitted Furusawa.

But💮 he also conf👍essed that the use of pneumatic-valves is far from an obvious engineering choice.

"From the theoretical point of view we don't need to use the pneumatic v♓alves, because the rev limit is around 19,000 rpm [achievable with valve-springs]," he declared.

𓃲"Basically the engine shape is also still the same and, even though we changed the cylinder head, the ce🐲ntre of gravity location is almost the same as well. Of course some of the internal parts are different, because otherwise we cannot increase the horsepower."

And just hꦓow much has the horseꦓpower been increased?

"I would say we ha🔜ve added five 'ponies' compared 🌊to last year's engine, but we will need another three or four by the first race," he explained.

"I don't know the exact level of our competitors," Furusawa continued. "Using last year's data, I precisely calculated that if our competitors advance at the same rate as last year, then we will be able to win already - but of course our competitors are also upgra൲ding their machinery for the new season.

"I think our competitors have𓄧 gone up around t♉hree or four ponies from last year," he confirmed.

Finally, the big question, can Rossi and Yamaha take the fight to Ston🙈er and Ducati in 2008?

"Yes, and I hope 🔜for a big win from the first round at Qa꧒tar," said a confident Furusawa.

Rossi and Ston🧜er will be back on track together, alongside a full line-up of 2008 riders, during the Jerez IRTA test from February 16-18.