In a bid to address rider concerns that emerged during the 2024 MotoGP season, Yamaha rolled out a new engine for their YZR-M1 machines at the Dutch Grand Prix. Earlier this year, Yamaha introduced a more powerful engine in response to rider feedback.
While the initial iteration delivered the desired increase in horsepower, it came at a significant cost: compromised handling that resulted in arm pump issues for both Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins.
This latest engine update signifies Yamaha’s attempt to find a sweet spot, aiming to retain the newfound power advantage while rectifying the handling problems that hampered the previous version.
With the new engine in tow, both Quartararo and Rins started a crucial evaluation process during practice sessions at Assen to assess its effectiveness on the track.
Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, both piloting new engines for their respective teams, struggled to find a perfect setup during the second MotoGP practice session at Catalunya.
While Quartararo expressed some satisfaction with the improved turning and agility of the new engine, he acknowledged a slight sacrifice in top speed. Despite these improvements, his session results reflected inconsistency across different sectors.
Rins, on the other hand, highlighted an improvement in turning with the new engine but admitted a significant gap remains compared to their competitors. Both riders encountered electronic issues earlier in the day, hindering their ability to fully explore the potential of their machines.
With qualifying looming, Quartararo remains committed to the new engine, while Rins acknowledges the need for significant improvement to secure a spot in Q2.
