VOLUME 59 ISSUE 9 MARCH 1, 2022 P89
focus on how to take the maximum
performance from the Michelin rear tire."
The new machine has more grunt,
added top speed and is less critical on
the front-end during braking. "The bike
is working well, and we had no crashes.
The bike is safer than ever," said Indo-
nesian pace setter Pol Espargaro. What's
more, all four Honda riders are riding the
same package and working in a similar
direction—a far cry from the disastrous
first half of last year.
A true sign of Honda's strength is the
speed of their satellite team. Both Takaaki
Nakagami and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda)
posted impressive long runs on the final
day of preseason. Older brother Marc was
still hampered by pain in his right shoulder
at the end of both tests. But "when I tried
different setups, different aerodynamics,
different tires, the lap time was coming."
That should strike fear into Honda's rivals.
World Champion Fabio Quartararo
has been quick on the Yamaha in testing but is still
missing the horsepower upgrade he so desperately
wanted. He'll be up against it in 2022.
YAMAHA
A glance at the time sheets from
the two tests indicate reigning
World Champions Yamaha are in
the best shape of all, as Quartar-
aro was fast (seventh at Sepang,
second at Mandalika). There
was no shortage of consistency,
either. On the final day of testing,
the Frenchman pieced together
32 laps under one minute and
33 seconds. And if France's first-
ever premier class champion is
to be believed, he's riding better
than ever. "From my side, I'm 100
percent," he said once testing had
finished.
Yet it is possible to argue
Yamaha has the most reason to
worry of any factory. Its '22 M1
is incredibly similar to last year's
package. Yes, the old strengths
remain, primarily its tremendous
front-end feel, cornering and
braking capabilities. But so do
the old weaknesses, a lack of
top speed being the main one. In
Indonesia the fastest M1 through
the speed trap was 5.5 mph down
on the Ducatis, a near identical
deficit to a year ago.
Also of concern must be
Quartararo's comments relating
to qualifying potential. Only on the
final day in Indonesia did he make
a step in qualifying trim. And even
then, he had to ride well over the
limit to set the second fastest
time.
