Alex Rins: Yamaha “strong on the straights” but “still far from the top”

Alex Rins says Yamaha’s latest engine is “str🅰ong on the straights” but that overall “we're still quite far from the top.”

Alex Rins, Qatar MotoGP test, 20 February
Alex Rins, Qatar MotoGP test, 20 February

New Monster Yamaha rider 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Alex Rins briefly featured as high as fourth on the timesheets during the final hours of MotoGP pre-season testing in Qatar.

The ꦇformer Suzuܫki and LCR Honda race winner slashed 1.5s from his day one time to finish 1.151s from leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati).

But Rins was still pushed all the way down to 16th, two spots 🔯behind team-mate Quartararo, due to improvements by other🎃s.

“Today, we focused more on improving our set-up, trying to put the bike higher, lower, longer, shorter, to understand where we can improve, if there is a margin or not. And, honestly, Iᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤𒁏ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ made a step forward compared to day one," Rins said.

“We're still♔ quite far from the top. I'm doing 1'52s, and Fabio is also 1s from the fastest rider, so we still have to work a lot♛ to reduce this gap.

“If we want to fight for the victory, we need to work even harder. But I think our way of working is the correct oneꦑ, so we are ready to start.”

Qatar top speeds
Qatar top speeds

On theꦍ plus side, the Yamaha pair were ranked third and fifth on the top speed charts, underlining the step 🌃made by the new M1 engine.

“Well, overall, I think Yamaha has impro﷽ved the engine. On the straight we were quite strong, so they did a good job during the wi♚nter break,” Rins confirmed.

Team director Masꦓsimo Meregalli admitted the team hoped to be closer heading into the new campaign.

“In a way we areဣ satisfied, because all the new materials we introduced this year gave us a boost in performance," Meཧregalli said.

“Most of the time the coꦓmments of our two riders matched, and it's fun🌜damental to have them work in the same direction. But we still have work to do.

“The gap to our competit𓃲ors is still important, and I had🦄 hoped to be closer. 

"I didn't expect it, because in ൩Sepang we improved our best lap by 0.5s and here by even more. But, as I said, it's not enough, so we will keep working.

“Our pace is not bad – not top 3 yet, but not bad – but the time attack remains ou♍r main area of improvement because good starting positions are a big advantage.”

Yamaha suffered its firstꦓ winless MotoGP season since 2003 lasౠt year.

Finding more rear grip and extend𒐪ing tyre life is now🤪 seen as the priority for the 2024 M1.

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