Former champion Quartararo hailed a ‘massive step’ after switching to last 🔥year’s aero package, paired w💮ith the new engine and old chassis settings, on the final day of winter testing.

But Morbidelli fa꧙ced ꦰa more complicated choice for the season ahead.

The Italian had continued workin൩g with brand-new aero parts until the close of testing and therefore didn’t ꦗtry the older fairing.

MotoGP rules allow only one update to the ‘Aero Body’ during tꦯhe season, meaning the wrong choice could severely impact a rider’s season.

Bꦑut after analysis of the test data, Morbidelli - who was just 19th fastest, but within 1.1s of the top - will join Quartararo (third quickest) in running the smaller fairing when opening practice begins on Friday morning in Portimao.

“I expect improvements🍃 from the test because the gap was, not a lot, but in this MotoGP [era it is] a lot. So I expect to be better than the test,” Morbidelli said on Thursday.

“Because of ev🗹erything we collected in the test🔜s… we will start with the combination that we think is best.”

And ജthat combination will include the older fairing.

“That's something I will put on, yes,” Morbidelli confi꧋rmed, adding that it should provide: “More top speed and better flow through the corners.”

The 28-year-old, looking to rebound from a career-worst 19th in last year’s MotoGP standings, is also eager to see how the more powerful M1 𝐆engine performs in battle.

“We need to see when we are going to be all together, but I strongly🐓 believe [we can fight].”