Dominique Aegerter’s GRT Yamaha team had some new test items to try at this week’s Portimao test, but were uꦏnable to make a proper evaluation because of inconsistent and inclement weather conditions.

In particular, Yamaha♚ has brought engine and electronic updates for 2025 in the hopes of improving their major weakness♚ of 2024: straight line performance, particularly in acceleration on corner exit.

“Yamaha was working so much during the winter, we are also in the Super𒀰concession area, so we can work more than other factories,” Aegerter saꦬid of Yamaha’s off-season WorldSBK development.

“So, unlucky we couldn’t put🍒 it all together becausꦉe of the track condition, but their effort is great, also the team work in some areas.

“I think when you watch closely the bike you could see in some parts there are some different things: I think engine parts, electron♏ic parts they tried to improve and I hope soon we can really put it all together to be on the race and be again more competitive t🍷han last year.”

In addition to the poor weather, A🎉egerter was unable to make the most of what dry running was available in Portugal because of a crash on Tuesuday.

“The weather wa🦹s not so good,” Aegerter saꦆid. “[On Tuesday] we had some dry track conditions, we tried some stuff. [I had a] small crash, luckily nothing happened – the mechanics had some extra work to do.

“There were two rivers over the track so it wa🐲s also not the💮 perfect conditions.

“𓆏I’m still struggling a little bit with the bike to find the good feeling I haꦿd at the end of last season.”

Despite the strugglesꦚ and the bad weatherไ, Aegerter felt that even the wet Wednesday of the test had not been a complete waste.

“It was useful to test some items that we maybe wouldn’🙈t do when it would be aꦏ dry track,” he said.

“For the g💞uys it’s for sure useful to have some data for different electronic stuff and some things on the bike that we could try. So, it was good to make these laps, anyway.

“Not ♏t🦋he best day, but at least we have some data in the rain.”

💜Two more test days now await the WorldSBK field before the first round in Phillip Island, those two days taking place at the same venue as the opening race.

“I thi🐭nk the most important is just to get used to the bike again, to get u🦩p to speed,” Aegerter said in preview of the final preseason test of the year.

“Don’t change too🌟 much, because now in these two days that we tested the weather was not perfect but also we had some test items from Yamaha to test, so I think Phillip Island is just to focus on race speed – try to figure out tyres and race setting.

“Phil🅠lip Island is always a little bit of💮 a special one for riding and also for the tyres, so we just give full throttle and try to make a good result there.”