Yamaha is experiencing an unprecedented crisis that affects the morale of its team. Worse, the long-awaited improvement, the exit of the tunnel is for the moment not even glimpsed. This crisis is strangely similar to the Valentino Rossi front dating back to 2004, when Yamaha was adrift.
Yamaha’s works riders Rossi and Maverick Vinales finished eight and tenth in Sunday’s Aragon Grand Prix, a race that marked Japanese manufacturer’s longest-ever losing streak in its MotoGP history.
Speaking to media, Yamaha MotoGP boss Lin Jarvis said Yamaha is working for 2019 but it is hard to say which specific moment will come the final version of the new bike.
“We are working for 2019 and we have already done a test in Aragon to test a new engine and electronics change, so it’s hard to say which specific moment will come the final version of the new bike.” Jarvis said.
“The next test we will do after the last GP in Valencia and we are aware of not being able to start the season in such conditions. We have 4 to 5 intense months to develop the machine.
“I cannot say whether or not there is a need for radical change like 14 years ago in 2004. The situation was completely different, but we need new people within the team delivers new ideas that can raise the level of our engineers. We are going through a moment of serious crisis.
Valentino Rossi is not impressed with first test of 2019 Yamaha engine. (Source:www.bikesportnews.com)
Valentino Rossi on the other hand, is not impressed with first test of 2019 Yamaha engine. Former Ducati rider was speaking after Aragon GP.
“I tried the first edition of the 2019 engine, yes. But I think and I hope it’s not the final one, it’s just a small modification, because it’s very similar. I hope they continue to work, because the engine for me is problem for us. They have to make it better.” Rossi said.
“A worrying thins is that usually the Brno [post-race] test was the moment in which we tried the following year’s M1, but the last two years this hasn’t happened. Where is next year’s bike? Unfortunately in testing we haven’t tried many things for next year.” Rossi added.
