Suggestions from inside the MotoGP paddock say that Yamaha are being inspired by their new recꦍruit from Ducati.

Massimo Bartolini quit♛ as Vehicle Performance Engineer at Ducati to join Yamaha this year as their technical director.

At the preseason Sepang test, whispers around the garages suggest that Bartolini’s impact has already been significant for🌸 the bikes that Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins will ride.

“I’ve heard nothing but ♊praise from the Yamaha team for Massimo,” reported Simon Crafar from Sepang.

“I dug into his specialities.

“They say three-sixty degrees, he knows the whole bike, meaning that all areas are his specialties. Imp🥀ressive.

“Not only that is impressive, but also his h🔜uman side and how he has come in to the Japanese system.

“As♚ a boss - he is technical director of Yamaha MotoGP operations - so he’s one of the boss🔯es.

“The way he has come in, apparently, is quit♎e smooth.

“He has meshed with the Japanese and i🌠s work🐭ing very well.

“The Yamaha staff and mechanics, I know a lot of the💟m. They have to be professional and they can’t tell me, exactly, what they are doing technically or what they have improved upon.

“But they are telling me that they are in a much better place than 1🍒2 months ago. Much more confident in what they have.

“It sounds like Bartolini has touched every area.

“There are Ducati-like scoops on the bottom of the valley pan, you can see the tail piece has chang💞ed, and there is different aero around the bike. Obviously the engine♛ has changed, they have got an engine specialist.”

Yamaha have separate🧸ly recruited Marco Nicotra from Ducati a♊s well, to become their new Head of Aerodynamics.

Yamaha were notable at the preseason test in 💜Sepang for seemingly making much-needed gains on the dreadful 2023 that they endured.

Quartararo may be their star rider - and the 2021 MotoGP champion - who they are despe🐓rate to tie down long-term despite his expiring contract, but the other side of the Yamaha garage is als♔o flowing with optimism.

“Alex Rins has impressed. I cha💜tted to his team,” Crafar reported.

“Everyone kn⭕ows 💖how smooth Alex is, you can see it, beautifully smooth.

“What they were impressed with was his braking.

“He might be smooth but wow, he brakes!

“Fabio is famous for braking but they are saying that Ale𒐪x is at least matching that.

“I saw him🔯 out on track. He looked real♑ly good out there.”