MotoGP Valencia test - 2014 engine 'a bit rude' says Rossi
Rollover to zoom
Click main image to enlarge
13/11/2013
Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has described the more fuel efficient 2014 Yamaha MotoGP engine as 'a bit more rude and aggressive' and likened it to a two-stroke that is running too lean.
Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has described the more fuel efficient 2014 Yamaha MotoGP engine as 'a bit more rude and aggressive' and likened it to a two-stroke that is running too lean.
Rossi spent most of yesterday working with the 2014 bike which will have to run on just 20 litres of unleaded instead of this year's 21 litres which The Doctor thinks is a problem as he ran out of fuel more than once on the slowing down lap this year.
"Today we concentrate more on the new bike. It was a bit more difficult as I wasn't fast compared to yesterday but we work a lot on the new bike and try to test some new system for the engine, for a different way to save fuel, some thing worked, some thing a little bit less," said Rossi, speaking at Valencia.
"With less fuel, the bike is more difficult to ride. A lot times this year we arrive very, very much at the limit with 21, so with 20 is worse. Is like a two-stroke when it is too lean. The engine is a bit more rude, more agressive."
Rossi also tried new front-end settings in order to improve his performance under braking and corner entry as those are the areas he says the Repsol Hondas are so much better than the YZR-M1.
"We try different things for the setting, especially for use the front tyre in the right way and improve the grip in the entry where I suffer all this season. Some thing work, some thing not. It was easier to ride the bike yesterday, but I don't know why.
"At the end, the performance is not fantastic but we make an important job for try to arrive more competitive next year. All during this season, I wasn't strong enough in braking, for stop the bike and entry, so this is the target for where we have to work.
"The Hondas are able to brake a little but deeper and enter faster than us, so this is the way to fix. We have to work on the gearbox. Usually Yamaha is good with chassis."
Image by Bonnie Lane
