Marco Bezzecchi
Yamaha’s saving grace for the upcoming MotoGP season ran into issues during the Sepang pre-season test, and Jack Miller has refused to shed any further light on the situation inside the garage.
After experiencing some issues with their new iteration of M1 on the opening day of MotoGP’s Sepang test, Yamaha announced they would be absent from the following day due to safety concerns over the prototype.
It was a fairly disastrous week of testing for the Japanese constructor, with Fabio Quartararo also taking a tumble on the first day, which required him to undergo surgery on a fractured finger.
Premier class debutant Toprak Razgatlioglu also ran into issues with the new V4-powered M1, with Alex Rins revealing that the rookie broke one of the engines during his test programme.
This was one of the main catalysts for Yamaha pulling the plug on day two. Quartararo also fell foul of destroying an engine, but neither rider can be blamed for the mishap at all.
We all have that one rider we’d love to grab a drink with. Who’s yours and why? 🍻
Let us know in the comments below!
Jack Miller refused to answer a question about Yamaha’s nightmare with their new V4-powered bike
During his media duties with journalists following the conclusion of MotoGP’s Sepang test, Jack Miller was asked if he could shed any light on the exact cause of Yamaha’s engine issues.
Unfortunately, the Australian remained tight-lipped, replying via Speedweek, “I can’t tell you that, next question please!”
Yamaha must have communicated to the riders in their stable about not giving too much away regarding the issues they had been experiencing, with Rins sharing a similar response when prompted.
Instead, Miller played down Yamaha’s expectations of turning up to the first round of the season with a competitive bike, which echoed the same sentiment as technical director Max Bartolini.
He said, “It was like a hiccup, but these things happen. It would be extremely naive to come and try to build a bike in nine months to race against the best in the world without expecting to have a day like yesterday.
“It’s part of the process, and the guys worked hard through the night to find a solution, not only here but also in Japan and Europe.
“It’s inevitable, but better that it happened here than in Buriram or some other race.”
Should Yamaha go back to their inline four engine until the V4 is ready?
Jack Miller also noted how Toprak Razgatlioglu faced a ‘common problem’ with MotoGP bikes during the test
Miller also took the time to comment on his new teammate, Razgatlioglu, who struggled with managing his rear tyres during the test.
The Australian pointed it out as being a “common problem” with the current spec of tyres, explaining, “It’s a common problem with Michelin tyres when you lift the bike to 25 degrees, and it doesn’t come back until you shift into fifth or sixth gear.
“That’s why you hear that sound with the Ducati engine; it transmits the load smoothly so as not to disturb the bike. With the inline four, this load transfer was very difficult to achieve.”
The Michelin-branded tyres were expected to be Razgatlioglu’s biggest issue during his adaptation to MotoGP machinery.
Coming from Pirelli rubber in World Superbikes, it is also expected for the Turkish rider to shine in 2027 once the Italian brand becomes the supplier of the premier class.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
