After the disappointment of losing out on this year’𝓡s title to Francesco Bagnaia on Sunday, Quartararo sign🙈alled his intent by being the first race rider on track this morning.

A series of new parts were available for his M1, but the main attraction was the latest engine upgr🍎ades, expected to build further on the promise shown at the Misano test in September.

Instead, ♋Quartararo was perplexed to♊ find no power or extra speed over the much-maligned 2022 engine.

“I'm surprised because actually this engine was supposed to be a little bit faster than the one we tested in Misano and Barcelona [but] I found it was the same as [the 2022 engine] two days ago,” said Quartararo, who had been foꦉurth in the race and was ninth faste🐬st at the test.

“Especially on the qualifying lap. We compared the speed and it was the same. So we have ﷽to analyse what happened because we had two tests - Misano Barcelona - then C⛎al [Crutchlow] did Motegi and Jerez and they saw a difference on the [new] engine.

“But right now, there was no differencꦦe. So we have to analyse really well what happe🌱ned.”

Asked if he was disappointed, the 2021 world✃ champion replied: “Yeah, of course! It's not the way I wanted to end the ye🦩ar, but at the end something went wrong.

“It's not possible t𓆉hat in Misano and Barcelona we felt an improvement and today there ♕is nothing."

Quartararo set a top speed of 327.4km/h, compared with a Tuesday best of 335.4 by Bagnaia's Ducati. The Frencꦑhman's average top speed best five) during the race weekend had been 328.2km/h with a peak of 330.5.

Quartararo's team-mate Franco Morbidelli💙 set 325.8km/h on his way toꦇ 14th on the test timesheets.

“I guess for Franco [Morb𒀰idelli] it was the same because I see he's also quite near the bottom in the top speed," Quartar♓aro continued.

“I had only one slipstream, so that's why I went 3🅠27, but when you check [difference to] the top guys in front I think it's quite high so. We have to analyse.”

Morbidelli confirmed: "It has been strange because we were expecting more power from the engine and that didn'💧t really happen. We need to understand well why."

Quartararo: 'A problem for sure, weird feeling'

Speaking to pit lane reporter Simon Crafar earlier in the day, Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli revealed test rider Crutchlow had called the lateꦿst engine spec 'a rocket'.

Rather than pondering a return to the previous 2023 engine spec, from&nbs🎐p;Misano, Quartararo reiterated that something ‘weird’ must have happened today𝓀.

“Normally this engine has more horsepower and in Jereಞz [a week ago] Cal tried it and it was clearly better. But right now [here] the top speed with last year is the same," Quartararo said.

“So there is a problem for sure! I mean not in the engine, but something happene🐷d that we didn't have this extra♒ power that we were expecting.

“It was not a wasted [day] but, a weird feeling I would say. At Misano when I went through ♔the gears I felt 𓆏that the engine had something. Today, no!”

Crutchlow previously revealed the new⛎ engine had already gone through four different development stages even before the Valencia version.

Quartararo confir🌳med that he had only one new engine spec available toꩲday.

Turning to the other new Yamaha parts on offer, aerodynami🌳cs and chassis, Quartararo was reluctant to offer a clear verdict.

“With the aero package you feel the difference, but you can't really say if it's better or not,” he explain💮ed. “Because with the bigger wing you have less wheelie, but you don't know if you lose more in top speed than [you✤ gain] in acceleration on braking.”

Quartararo also tried some rear seat wings: “I think it can be something interestin꧒g. At ൲least it was not worse and my feeling was quite good with it.”

And the frame?

“I tried two runs in the beginning. Was really similar. Not wꦛorse. Not better… basically the same.”

There were only two Yamaha riders on track at Valencia with Cr⛄utchlow not testing and the satell🐲ite RNF team switching to Aprilia for 2023.

The next MotoGP test will be held aꦐt Sepang in February.