Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP |News details:Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Finish 2024 Preseason Testing in Qatar

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The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team concluded their 2024 preseason testing programme on Day 2 of the Qatar MotoGP Official Test. Riders Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins wrapped up the day in 14th and 16th place respectively in the Day 2 and the combined standings.

Lusail (Qatar), 20th February 2024

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins returned to the Lusail International Circuit today for the final day of 2024 preseason testing. Making the most of the improved track conditions on their last day aboard their M1s before the season will kick off with the Grand Prix of Qatar (8 – 10 March), they put in diligent work. They completed their testing schedules and took 14th and 16th place respectively in the Day-2 and the combined Qatar MotoGP Official Test results.

Quartararo continued to show his trademark unstoppable work ethic. He got another 57 laps in on Day 2. He dropped under the 1'52s-mark with a fastest time of 1'51.965s, clocked on lap 43. The effort earned him 14th in the Day-2 and overall test rankings, with a 1.013s gap to first.

Rins enjoyed another productive day in Qatar. With more laps under his belt on the M1 and refamiliarized with the Lusail track's reference points, he improved by more than 1.5s on his Day-1 time. His 1'52.103s, set on lap 59 of 60, put him in 16th position in both today's and the combined Day 1-2 timesheets, 1.151s off the fastest time.

Massimo Meregalli

Team Director

We were able to confirm here what we saw in Malaysia. The improvements we made there also worked here, including a small improvement in top speed. In a way we are satisfied, because all the new materials we introduced this year gave us a boost in performance. Most of the time the comments of our two riders matched, and it's fundamental to have them work in the same direction. But we still have work to do. The gap to our competitors is still important, and I had hoped to be closer. I didn't expect it, because in Sepang 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 our main area of improvement because good starting positions are a big advantage.

Fabio Quartararo

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

We didn't make much progress, but the track conditions were better today. I was riding behind a rival, and I got some great information for us from that as well. We have a margin for improvement, but we need to find more grip and lessen the tyre degradation. We are improving, but the others improved too. We will have to see at the first GP, but hopefully we are in a better position than we were last year. I think we need more time and more tests to see the full potential of our bike. But I believe a lot in this project. I feel that Yamaha is doing their best. I'm not thinking too much about the future – I am focusing on improving our bike.

Álex Rins

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

Well, overall, I think Yamaha has improved the engine. On the straight we were quite strong, so they did a good job during the winter break. 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, I made a step forward compared to yesterday, Day 1 in Qatar. 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 one, so we are ready to start.