Yamaha has been facing challenging times in MotoGP in recent years. From leading the Riders’ Championship for much of the 2022 season, the manufacturer quickly found itself unable to regularly fight for podiums.
The situation gradually deteriorated as European manufacturers began to dominate the premier class. The reaction was slow, but it is happening – as evidenced by the hiring of experienced engineers, including Max Bartolini.
The ultimate goal for Yamaha is naturally to return to winning ways – a slow process but now aided by the bike’s development concessions. Team manager Massimo Meregalli sees clear progress, although he admits to Motorsport-Total.com that there is still much more to be done:
– We still have a lot of room for improvement. But I’m happy to say that we’ve definitely taken a step forward. It’s true that the concessions mean more work for us, but they also give us the opportunity to accelerate development.
After nine rounds, Yamaha is in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship with 48 points – 117 points fewer than KTM, which is immediately ahead. It has only had two top ten finishes in main races so far, showing that there is still a long way to go. The concessions and, in 2025, the partnership with Pramac, will be important aids for the manufacturer from Iwata.