Photo: Movistar Yamaha
Yamaha and Lin Jarvis apparently put up a very strong and unobjectionable opposition to Jorge Lorenzo’s request to test an Open-spec YZR-M1 MotoGP prototype. The allure of the new regulations Dorna prepared for the current season and the future ones is quite strong, especially after seeing Aleix Espargaro being unbelievably fast aboard his Open-class Forward Yamaha machine. But the Tuning Forks say “no”.
The elder of the Espargaro brothers is riding a NGM Forward Racing bike with a leased M1 engine, and is getting very close to the leading pack of the MotoGP, while his team mate Colin Edwards is doing well, too. So it was only natural that at least riders thought about the potential the Open class testing hides.
However, it looks like the Team Blue and team boss Lin Jarvis are as firm as it gets in denying Lorenzo such a test and asking him to keep on using the Factory spec bike, with a frozen engine throughout the season and 20 liters of fuel.
Jarvis says that he’s ware that in certain moments, riders may happen to miss the long-term objective of the teams, and are too focused on lap times in tests and all. Still, it’s hard to deny that Aleix has taken a huge step from his performance last year and the M1-powered machine suits him like a glove. Far more than being fast in the pre-season tests, he showed a solid race pace in the opening round, too. So definitely, there’s potential in the Open class!
Lin Jarvis admits that while the opportunity to use the softer tire is indeed an advantage, it’s unverified whether the Open teams will actually be able to use it to the full potential against the factories. Speaking about riders and the whole Factory team efforts, the Yamaha boss adds: “It seems logical that they (the riders)may have had some qualms about our decision and ask ' why not try it too? ' Their job is to motivate us to improve, but the work of the technician is to think about the future in terms of strategy and understand what are the problems that a possible transition to the Open could create.
Be prepared to provide the soft tire is a great advantage, but you can really use in the race? There are many more factors that need to be taken into account for the race, not only the timing of the tests. We had already decided to join the league as motion ' Factory ' and we have not seen any compelling reason to change this strategy.”
Round two of the 2014 MotoGP comes on 11-13 April, in Austin, Texas at the Circuit of the Americas. Via insella. Follow the link for more official photos of the Movistar Yamaha 2014 bikes.
However, it looks like the Team Blue and team boss Lin Jarvis are as firm as it gets in denying Lorenzo such a test and asking him to keep on using the Factory spec bike, with a frozen engine throughout the season and 20 liters of fuel.
Jarvis says that he’s ware that in certain moments, riders may happen to miss the long-term objective of the teams, and are too focused on lap times in tests and all. Still, it’s hard to deny that Aleix has taken a huge step from his performance last year and the M1-powered machine suits him like a glove. Far more than being fast in the pre-season tests, he showed a solid race pace in the opening round, too. So definitely, there’s potential in the Open class!
Lin Jarvis admits that while the opportunity to use the softer tire is indeed an advantage, it’s unverified whether the Open teams will actually be able to use it to the full potential against the factories. Speaking about riders and the whole Factory team efforts, the Yamaha boss adds: “It seems logical that they (the riders)may have had some qualms about our decision and ask ' why not try it too? ' Their job is to motivate us to improve, but the work of the technician is to think about the future in terms of strategy and understand what are the problems that a possible transition to the Open could create.
Be prepared to provide the soft tire is a great advantage, but you can really use in the race? There are many more factors that need to be taken into account for the race, not only the timing of the tests. We had already decided to join the league as motion ' Factory ' and we have not seen any compelling reason to change this strategy.”
Round two of the 2014 MotoGP comes on 11-13 April, in Austin, Texas at the Circuit of the Americas. Via insella. Follow the link for more official photos of the Movistar Yamaha 2014 bikes.
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