until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Petronas Yamaha rider Franco Morbidelli has admitted that his Yamaha’s top speed issues are “shocking”, as he trailed every rider considerably in the speed trap in Mugello practice.
Ending Friday an impressive third on overall times, he was nonetheless a huge 12mph slower than the bike with the best top speed – the Pramac-run Ducati of Michele Pirro.
Even worse for the only Yamaha rider still on 2019-spec machinery, though, was the gap to Aprilia rider Lorenzo Savadori in second last, around 3.5mph.
“It’s a shocking number,” Morbidelli said of his deficit to the top of the speed trap chart, “but not as shocking as the difference to the [second-to-last] bike.
“The distance to the second-last was 5kph. There’s the whole chart, then there’s last place, and then there’s me.
“It seems like here in Mugello, we’re struggling a bit more compared to usual. We’re already working to find some ways to improve on it and I hope we manage to improve on it a little more.”
Always the optimist, Morbidelli is still upbeat about his speed. He is adamant that the fact that he is still setting competitive laptimes despite the top speed issue means he and his team are working productively.
“I’m happy to see myself in third position, and the fact that when I look at the speed chat I see myself from the top and so far from the bottom gives me pride,” he explained. “I realise that we’re doing something great, and it gives me confidence and energy to keep working to try and do great things.
“Maybe the great things that we’re doing will not be reflected on the chart, but I can assure you that we are doing great things!”
However, while Morbidelli might be upbeat about his performance to date, that’s likely to change once today’s qualifying session is over and done with – a session that might be more important than the race itself in securing a strong finish to the weekend.
The fast and flowing nature of the iconic Mugello circuit means that it’s more than possible for a smooth rider like Morbidelli to make up for time lost on the straights in the corners, especially against rival machines like Ducati’s straight line missile with its well-documented turning deficiencies.
That means that it’s entirely possible to see slower machines lining up well up the grid for tomorrow’s race, with Suzuki and Yamaha dominating the time sheets so far this weekend.
They need to turn that into strong race starts, though, if they’re to have any chance tomorrow of making a break at the front and ensuring that the Ducatis don’t beat them into submission on the straights.
Morbidelli has a new advantage in that area this weekend, too, with news that Yamaha’s new front suspension launch control device has been offered to all four of the team’s rider.
