Mandalika Test: Pol Espargaro top, 21 riders within a second

The same can’t really be said for the Yamaha quartet though, despite the two factory riders finishing P2 and P5. Quartararo finished P2 in Indonesia, but the lack of improvements with the engine and top speed have certainly hindered their pre-season. The Frenchman, however, has expressed his joy at his speed with used tyres, but something isn’t clicking with new, soft tyres. “We need to know why,” said Quartararo on Day 2 of the Mandalika Test. On Day 3, Quartararo said he was “feeling good” as testing comes to an end, and is in good spirits despite him and the team expecting more from the new engine. With every factory making looking like they’ve taken big strides forward, we’ll find out in Qatar where Yamaha really stand.