This sunday of MotoGP came to a sudden end as the weather conditions forced the Race Direction to cancel the Sprint Race. A pity, as Massimo Meregalli told, but a needed action has ‘safety must be priority’, he assured.

Yamaha’s Team Director spoke of the decision to cancel the action on sunday, in regards to the Sprint race: ‘Of course, we are very disappointed for the fans who came to the circuit this sunday However, we knew this was a possible turn of events, which is why we held the Race on saturday’.

It was he decision the he also agreed with: ‘We do agree with the decision to cancel the Sprint in the afternoon. It is the right decision. The conditions were getting worse and worse, and safety must be the priority. We hope for better weather in Buriram!’.

O conteúdo ‘The conditions were getting worse and worse, and safety must be the priority’ – Massimo Meregalli aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Francesco Bagnaia returned to the winning ways this sunday at Mandalika after beating Maverick Viñales who is still looking for his first win with Aprilia, as for Fabio Quartararo, he was again on the podium. The rider’s team bosses already reacted to the race results of this sunday.

Get to know their opinion on what happened with the riders, each from the podium.

Gigi Dall’Igna (Ducati/Francesco Bagnaia): ‘It’s unbelievable. it’s really unbelievable here. He recovered really well during the race and honestly I didn’t expected this kind of race: he pushed, pushed, pushed all the time and we are really really happy’.

Massimo Rivola (Aprilia/Maverick Viñales): ‘It was a real fight for Maverick, at a certain point we saw his rear tyre was gone. He managed well, his pace was consistent, didn’t have the pace from Pecco when he got him. Honestly I thought Fabio had more than him, so he was really good in defending. Wrong tyre choice for Aleix, completely and clearly’.

Massimo Meregalli (Yamaha/Fabio Quartararo): ‘Superb! The race has been long but not long enough, because maybe with a couple of more laps who knows how the race could have finished but I’m very happy. You know what we are dealing with, it is very tough and when you get to the podium anyway it’s a boost because of the work we are doing, even though it’s not visible, but I can garantee we are pushing like hell’.

O conteúdo Get to know Gigi Dall’Igna, Rivola and Meregalli’s thoughts on Indonesia GP sunday race aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The Japan GP was marked by the session taken on sunday to red flag the long race on sunday due to the worsening of the weather conditions, a decision that mostly was accepted by everyone. One of those is Massimo Meregalli, who just wants to forget about this race and focus on what is coming next.

For the Team Director of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team this was one of the most complicated weekends so far: ‘This was one of the more complicated weekends of the season so far. We had a difficult qualifying, a challenging Sprint, and this sunday the Race was interrupted due to the heavy rain causing poor track conditions’.

The decision to stop the race was the right one to be made, he added: ‘We fully agreed with the decision to red flag the Race when they did. There is not much to say about the Race. We will leave this race weekend behind us. We will use the one-week break to recharge our batteries in preparation for the busy GP schedule ahead’.

O conteúdo Massimo Meregalli happy with decision to red flag sunday’s race: ‘This was one of the more complicated weekends of the season so far’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Fabio Quartararo had a big big race this sunday at India and ended on the podium for the second time this year, with Yamaha’s Team Director pleased to see the rider ‘battling at the front’, for a position ‘where he belongs’.

Massimo Meregalli was super happy with the former world champion performance at Buddh: ‘What a race! These 21 laps were a really tough challenge for the riders. Fabio rode a faultless race though, and that is what got him onto the podium. It was great to see him battle at the front again where he belongs’.

Now comes the manufacturer’s home GP, with more motivation: ‘It gives us extra motivation for Yamaha’s home GP in Japan next week’.

O conteúdo ‘Fabio Quartararo rode a faultless race; It was great to see him where he belongs’ – Massimo Meregalli aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Fabio Quartararo wasn’t happy with what he tested in Misano and didn’t shy away from saying so, with Massimo Meregalli on the other hand to be happy with the results of the test given what was expected. He assured there was a lack of communication with the french star, while also saying there will be more novelties in the next tests.

The Yamaha Team Director address the controversy and explained to the MotoGP website what happened: ‘It was all a question of communication. That was our mistake, because we didn’t inform him of our expectations. What we got from the test was what we expected. The engine was quite new and had a different character’.

Meregalli then explained the manufacturer is working on different paths in order to be more competitive: ‘We’re working on two other developments, one of which will be ready for Valencia and the other for Malaysia. I was satisfied because we didn’t have any problems and we basically confirmed our expectations’.

And took the opportunity to make a revelation: ‘We are working on two other evolutions. One will be ready in Valencia and the other in Malaysia. I’m sure Fabio had different expectations, but also because of our lack of communication’.

O conteúdo Massimo Meregalli reveals ‘lack of communication’ with Fabio Quartararo in Misano Tests and reveals ‘two other engine evolutions’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli were not particularly thrilled after the MotoGP tests in Misano. Quartararo tested the new engine of the M1 and had higher expectations from it. Massimo Meregalli, the team director, provided insights into the team’s work during the test day and issued a cautionary note.

“We had one less day to test here compared to last year, so we had a packed schedule. We tried out new components. The most significant ones to evaluate were the first prototype of the 2024 engine and an aerodynamic package,” Meregalli began in an official statement.

While he did not disclose the specific feedback from the riders, Meregalli elaborated on the areas both riders focused on. “Our riders, especially Fabio, had high hopes. He tested the new engine and the aerodynamic package, gathering a lot of data that will be used for future development. Franky (Franco Morbidelli) focused on the aerodynamics and a new chassis.”

The team’s engineers now have the task of working based on the feedback received. “Engineers in Japan and Italy will meticulously analyze the specifications. A minor change in specifications can greatly affect the bike’s behavior, so we want to pay close attention to this task and aim to make significant strides for the Valencia Test.”

Meregalli concluded by mentioning their collaboration with Michelin. “Michelin also asked us to assist in testing new tires today, and we are keen to aid them in their development. Even though we couldn’t complete all the items on our extensive list, we are leaving the Misano Test with a wealth of information, which will be the stepping stone for 2024.”

This statement from the team director underscores the intricate nature of MotoGP bike development. Even minor tweaks can lead to significant changes in performance, handling, and rider comfort. The feedback loop between riders, engineers, and manufacturers is crucial in this high-stakes world of motorcycle racing. The insights gained from such tests can be the difference between a championship-winning season and a lackluster one.

The collaboration with tire manufacturers like Michelin further emphasizes the interconnectedness of all components on a MotoGP bike. Tires play a pivotal role in a bike’s performance, and their development goes hand in hand with that of the motorcycle.

As the MotoGP season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these developments translate on the racetrack. With the Valencia Test on the horizon, teams will be keen to refine their machines further, ensuring they are in the best possible shape for the upcoming races and the 2024 season.

O conteúdo Massimo Meregalli warns: ‘A small change in specifications can have a major impact on the bike’s behaviour’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Massimo Meregalli was pleased to see Quartararo ending the GP at Barcelona in P7 and revelead the changes made on the bike were crucial to allow the rider to have such a good performance.

The Team Director first spoke about the chaotic start of the race: ‘Red flag situations like the one we had this sunday always add a bit of extra tension, but our riders handled the situation well’.

As the rider himself told, going back to the 2022 fairing and settings was super important: ‘They had a good start, especially Fabio. We made some changes to the bike, and it helped Fabio battle with other riders. Seventh place, coming from so far down on the grid, is a decent result’. 

O conteúdo Massimo Meregalli happy with the changes with the M1 that: ‘Help Quartararo fighting with other riders’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.