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

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

At the preseason Sepang tes𒈔t, 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 Se🐟pang.

“I dug into his specialities.

“They say three-sixty degrees, he knows the whole bike, meaning that all areas are his spe🍬cialties. Impressive.

“Not only that is impressive, but also♋ his human side and how he has come in to the🌃 Japanese system.

“As a boss - he is technical director of Yamaha Moto꧃GP operations - so🙈 he’s one of the bosses.

“The way he has come i💎n, apparently, is quite smooth.

“He has meshed wit𝐆h the Japanese and is working very well.

“The Yamaha staff and mechanics, I know a lꦐot of them. 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 12 months ago. Much more co🦩nfiden🅰t 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 changed, and there is different aero around the bike. Obviously the engine has changed, they have got an eng🔯ine specialist.”

Yamaha have separately recruited Mar👍co Nicotra from Du🐈cati as well, to become their new Head of Aerodynamics.

Yamaha were notable at 🧜the preseason test in Sepangᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ 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 desperate to tie down long-te🌱rm despite his expiring contract, but the other side of the Yamaha garage is also flowing with optimism.

“Alex Rins has impressed. I chatted to h😼is team,” C🗹rafar reported.

“Everyone knows how smooth Alex is, you can see it,ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ beautifully smooth.

“What they were impressed with was his braking.

“He might be smooth but wow, he brakes!

“Fabio is famous f🔯or braking but they are saying that Alex is at least matching that.

“I saꦇw him out on track. He looked really good out there.”