Fabio Quartararo Is Asked Not To Expect Major Changes To Yamaha Engine

Fabio Quartararo has been instructed "not to expect major changes" to the Yamaha engine (photo: twitter @FabioQ20)

JAKARTA- Fabio Quartararo has been instructed "not to expect major changes" to the Yamaha engine he will try during the Valencia MotoGP test at the end of this month.

Yamaha unveiled its first 2024 prototype machine at the Misano test in September, although it was not greeted enthusiastically by 2021 world champion Quartararo.

He said at the time he expected far more than was on offer, especially in terms of power. However  the team disputed this and noted that the test went as planned.

Yamaha's 2024 engine is being developed by former Formula 1 chief engineer Luca Marmorini, who was present at the Misano test.

The Japanese manufacturer said last month that it had two other engines in development ahead of the 2024 season, although Quartararo was told not to expect much from the version he will try in Valencia.

"At the moment, I haven't spoken to them," he said when asked about what he expects from the machine at the Valencia test on Thursday, before the Malaysian Grand Prix. "They told me not to expect big changes for Valencia.

"But usually a big step will happen here [Sepang] in February. So, I don't know what to expect from Valencia and whether we will have something new," said the French racer.

Quartararo currently occupies ninth place in the MotoGP standings ahead of the start of the final three-race series of the season. He finished fifth at the Thai GP two weeks ago, while two weeks earlier he finished third at the Indonesian GP.

The French rider, who finished third in last year's Malaysian GP, said that repeating his performance in Thailand "would be incredible" for him when asked about his hopes for the coming weekend.

"Hoping for, I don't know, but at least trying to be in the top 10 on Friday," he said. "It's a long way to go. And then more or less speed is always good."

"So, this will be my main goal, to try to get into Q2 from Friday. For me, a race like in Thailand would be amazing, finishing in the top six, top seven, on this kind of track would be amazing," said the racer.