VOLUME 56 ISSUE 47 NOVEMBER 26, 2019 P65
MAVERICK
VINALES FINISHES
VALENCIA TEST
ON TOP
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
Y
amaha started the 2020 season well.
A new engine took Maverick Vinales to
the top of the time sheets in two days of
testing, with a lap time at a cold Ricardo Tormo
circuit at Valencia that would have put him on
pole position for the race three days earlier.
The Monster Energy Yamaha rider ran better
than three tenths faster than in qualifying, with
chassis upgrades as well as extra power, the lat-
ter answering year-long requests from the riders.
At least partly answering them. While official
top speed figures were erratic, Ducati's Jack Mill-
er credited with a somewhat implausible 208.4
mph, the comparison with Vinales's 200.5 mph
was born out by the Spanish rider's comments.
"A little bit more power arrived, but it's not
enough. We need to keep working on that area,
and not lose on others," he told press.
But it wasn't all about the engine. Satellite
Petronas team riders Fabio Quartararo and
Franco Morbidelli were next fastest, to make it a
Yamaha top three. They did it with the 2019 mo-
tor, relying only on their first experience with the
carbon-fiber swingarm, and other minor updates,
including a new aerodynamic seat. Quartararo
had been fastest on the first day.
According to factory team manager Massimo
Meregalli, with the 2020 prototype chassis and
engine, "we have no negatives, and we have
improved the top speed. There is still a gap, but
it is smaller."
Yamaha's latest bike is distinguished by a
much bigger air intake in the nose of the fairing.
Vinales's best time, set later in the session, was
1:29.849, compared with Quartararo's pole lap
VALENCIA
TEST WRAP
