That was quite a step, considering Morbidelli had been 103 points behind his then title leading team-mate at the same stage of 2022.

But their results then began to divulge again during the second half of this season.

While Quartararo went on to claim three podiums and tenth in the world championship, Morbidelli slipped to 13th and didn’t better his early-season fourth place in Argentina.

The final points tally for the M1 riders was 172-102 in Quartararo’s favour.

“This year I felt that I had a chance to be the best Yamaha and sincerely for the first half of the season we did well and were in that battle,” reflected Morbidelli, who was informed that Alex Rins would take his 2024 place during the summer break.

“But [things changed] in the second half of the season. Maybe the [Rins] announcement, maybe some other things that happened inside the team and so on.

“But Fabio I think was able to make an awesome job in the second half of the season. Practically flawless.”

Morbidelli felt the former MotoGP champion made the difference by squeezing just enough from the M1 to get directly into Qualifying 2 on a Friday.

“I think that just the other side [of the pit box] did a better job and were able to go from struggling to get into Qualifying 2 just as much as us in the first half of the season – when we were also able to outqualify Fabio – to stepping it up in the second half and we were not able to.

“Fabio’s been able to just make it to Qualifying 2 directly, do just enough on Friday to get into the top ten, and that made him do a hell of a second half of the season.

“We were not able to get directly into Qualifying 2 and we suffered with that, so that gap [between the Yamaha riders] spread out a bit more.

“But definitely I felt like I gave it a shot and I feel the speed, especially in race pace, was always there.

“But when you start 14th it’s very unlikely that you are going to catch up on a Fabio starting 5th, 6th or 7th.

“Anyway, I learned a lot and I was able to be fast [again] this year and that’s a good feeling.”

Former title runner-up Morbidelli, who had been just 19th in the 2022 world championship, was also the only rider to reach the finish of every Sprint and Grand Prix race this season.

The Italian, 29, will move to Pramac Ducati and ride the latest version of the title winning Desmosedici in 2024.

But with extra testing opportunities available to Yamaha (and Honda) from the new concessions ranking system, the 2021 world champion feels the factory can close some of the gap during the next set of MotoGP tests at Sepang.

“I think we made a really positive step in the aero, but it changed a little bit the balance of the bike and we didn’t have enough time to adjust the setting of the bike,” Quartararo said.

“Now we also have to use [the aero] in proper carbon fibre, because the wings were really heavy as it was not carbon, because it was a [printed] prototype, but I think there are many small details that we need to change.

“But of course, I expect much more, because even if we have to adjust [the set-up] a lot, we are still very far from the top guys.”

Yamaha suffered its first winless MotoGP season since 2003 this year. Quartararo was again the factory’s top rider, but a worst yet tenth in the world championship.

The Frenchman added: “I did not really have big expectations for the test, but you always try to look high, and of course, for me, there was some improvement but the reality is that we are still as far as before.”

Pressed on where the aero was better, Quartararo confirmed wheelies were reduced “but we didn’t find more turning yet. So this will be one thing to see for Malaysia because there are some corners there where turning is really important.

“With the Shakedown and Official test, we’ll stay for 10 days in Malaysia so I think we will have a lot of time [to try everything].

“As a rider, I want to fight for victories and if I have to make extra tests to really perform, I’m happy to do it, but we have to really work hard and work with a real idea of what we need to get back.”

While Yamaha and Honda race riders can now conduct private tests under the revised concessions rankings, with just one month separating February’s Sepang test and start of the new racing season in Qatar, time will be limited.

“I don’t know if it will be enough, but for me, it’s really important to get closer to [the top for next season]. The gap is still too big. Of course we didn’t go for one flying lap [at the Valencia test], but still we are very far from what we want,” Quartararo said.

“But I think and I hope that those extra days in Malaysia will make us arrive closer in Qatar.”

The pair of Sepang tests will be followed by a final official pre-season outing at Lusail on February 19-20.

With a record 22 events planned for the 2024 MotoGP World Championship post-race tests on a Monday after a grand prix event are the most feasible opportunities for private testing by Yamaha and Honda.

While aerodynamics was the ‘priority’ for Quartararo and Rins, the Frenchman also tried out engine and chassis developments.

“There were some big changes, especially on the aero side,” said Quartararo, who finished the test 12th fastest (0.769s).

“I think the direction we took was the right one. We made a step in this area.”

But the other developments had been less fruitful.

“We tried new a chassis, but it was not so great, and the engine is really similar. Slightly better but just a little,” said Quartararo.

The former world champion had missed Sunday morning’s Valencia GP warm-up due to illness but was able to complete 63 Tuesday laps.

“I have to keep going with the antibiotics for a few days, but today was much better.”

Rins, riding his third different brand of MotoGP machine in just over a year, spent most of the day acclimatising to the M1 before also trying the new aero.

The former Suzuki and LCR Honda race winner was 19th quickest but within 1.3s of test leader Maverick Vinales.

“It was my first day with the Yamaha team, and I‘m so happy because it was a really good day,” said Rins, who rode for 54 laps on his return to an Inline engine layout.

“We tested many things: small things regarding set-up. We only worked on the aerodynamics. I‘m quite happy because I adapted quite well to the bike so early on.

“The last hours, from midday to the end of the session, we were trying fairings, and they made a step forward compared to the fairing I used in the morning, which was the race fairing.”

Team director Massimo Meregalli confirmed: “We mainly worked on three different items with Fabio today: aerodynamics – which was our priority, the first step of the 2024 engine, and a new chassis.

“Alex adapted so quickly to the bike that he too had the opportunity to test the new fairings.

“One day was maybe not enough to get everything set up perfectly because we had so many things to try, but all in all it‘s been a positive day. Both riders noticed an improvement, and this confirms our course of action has been the right one.

“We will send all the data to Yamaha Motor Company in Japan and Yamaha Motor Racing in Italy, where the Yamaha engineers will work tirelessly to prepare the next steps for the tests in Sepang.”

Due to the revised concessions rankings, Quartararo and Rins will now be able to take part in the Sepang Shakedown test as well as the Official test, next February.

“Hopefully at Sepang, we can be at our 100%,” said Quartararo.

The Italian, who spent his rookie season on a Marc VDS Honda before joining Yamaha via the Petronas project in 2019, is being replaced by Alex Rins for 2024.

Without even a podium since 2021, Morbidelli has admitted it “fills me with excitement” to see his future Pramac Ducati team fighting for the world title with Jorge Martin and top of the teams’ championship.

But first, he aims to make some “nice memories” in his last event for Monster Yamaha.

“This will be my last GP with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team, which adds some extra emotion to this weekend,” said Morbidelli.

“I want to end our run together in the best way possible and make some final nice memories with the crew, so that is the goal.”

Title runner-up in 2020, Morbidelli has a best race result of fourth in factory Yamaha colours and is 13th in the world championship.

Team-mate Fabio Quartararo is ninth in the standings, one place behind his previous lowest MotoGP result of eighth in 2020.

With a 25-point deficit to Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales, that is where Quartararo is likely to remain.

But the Frenchman is hoping the new asphalt will suit the M1 and that he can challenge for what would be a fourth podium of a difficult year.

“My race pace in Qatar was really good. I hope that it will be like that in Valencia too. Last year didn‘t go too bad there. I think this year we might be able to do well again,” said Quartararo, fourth at Valencia during his doomed title showdown with Francesco Bagnaia.

“We have to keep a positive mindset and keep the good results going until the end of the season. I think the new surface in Valencia will be good. I heard there‘s a lot of grip now, so hopefully we can make a great Sprint and Race.”

Unless Quartararo or Morbidelli can take a shock victory on Sunday, Yamaha will suffer its first winless MotoGP campaign since 2003.

While Morbidelli will make his debut on the title-winning Desmosedici during the Tuesday test, Quartararo will try the latest version of the 2024 M1 prototype, the engine for which left him disappointed at September’s Misano test.

Having all achieved at least one podium, none of the five factories are eligible for the present concession system, which offers more engine changes per rider, private testing with race riders, in-season engine and aero development, plus more wild-cards.

But with testing limited and the new Sprint weekend format eating into free practice time, there are concerns Yamaha and Honda (or any other manufacturers in future) will find it hard to rise from the bottom of the constructors’ table.

In Yamaha’s case, as the only factory without the extra data from a satellite team, out-developing the series leaders is an even harder task.

A revised concession system, making it easier for manufacturers to drop in and out of concessions, plus some new technical perks, is thus on the table.

Among the new concessions mooted is a change in the test tyre allocation, so that the amount of tyres is no longer the same for all manufacturers.

Michelin’s Piero Taramasso told Crash.net the company would be “open to all propositions” when asked about such a move earlier this year.

The future division of test tyres could either be based on the number of bikes on the grid (fewer race riders = more test tyres) or proportional to race results.

The number of wild-cards a factory can have each season also appears up for debate. Not that Quartararo thinks such restrictions will hamper Ducati much.

“They have eight bikes!” he said. “It’s important for us, first of all, to have back a satellite team.”

But a Yamaha satellite team won’t happen for next season.

And while Ducati is already confirmed as filling the top three places in this year’s world championship, Yamaha now has just two more chances to avoid its first winless MotoGP campaign since 2003.

Indeed, despite a better second half, Quartararo has a fight on his hands with Jack Miller (KTM) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) just to remain in the final riders’ top ten.

Against that backdrop, the 2021 world champion emphasised that whatever likely benefits Yamaha has access to next season, the key will be to make the most of them.

“The concessions next year I think, if we have them, we have to use them really well because I don’t think we will have them for so long,” Quartararo said, confirming the new concessions are likely to be gained and lost more easily than at present.

“I think if we have [access to] them for half a year or one year, it will be a lot.

“So we have to use them [to the maximum while we have them] and I think it will be the most important year for Yamaha.

“So hopefully they can really take the benefit of these concessions.”

Quartararo will be joined by new team-mate Alex Rins next season, while Yamaha is targeting 2025 to secure a satellite team.

A Yamaha rider since his 2019 MotoGP debut, Quartararo’s current contract expires at the end of next year.

The Monster Yamaha star had attempted a wide sweeping line at turn one, but that perhaps meant the didn’t apply enough brake pressure to disengage the holeshot device.

Quartararo then made contact with Luca Marini at Turn 2, struggled through the first Turn 3 with the front suspension still locked, then was pushed wide by Marc Marquez at Turn 5.

The Frenchman dropped to 19th place as a result and eventually took the chequered flag in 16th. Well outside of the points.

“I wanted to go to the outside at turn 1 and carry speed. But I didn’t disengage the front device. Then in Turn 2 I had a touch with Marini. In Turn 3, the holeshot device meant I couldn’t make any corner speed and when Marc touched me in Turn 5, I went super wide.

“It was the worst five corners of my career!

 

“From there, the front tyre pressure went super high, and that made it complicated to overtake. But it‘s good experience for tomorrow. Now we know exactly what not to do on the first lap.”

If he can avoid such early mishaps tomorrow, Quartararo feels he can fight for a top six in the full-length race.

“This morning I had really good pace. So first of all tomorrow morning, we’ll try to have the feeling back from this morning and I think we can make the top 6. The same kind of race as Thailand.”

Completing a bad afternoon, Quartararo was later fined 1,000 euros for undoing his helmet strap in pit lane, as he returned to the garage, during final practice.

“The consequences of an unfastened helmet in an accident are obvious,” read the FIM Stewards penalty statement.

Team-mate Franco Morbidelli finished the Sprint as the top Yamaha in eleventh place.

But although Fabio Quartararo has been able to fight his way back into the top ten of the championship standings, including podiums at two of the past five rounds, victory still looks to be a long shot.

In terms of his chances at Sepang this weekend, the Frenchman will certainly need a big turnaround from the February test, where he and team-mate Franco Morbidelli were left just 19th and 20th fastest (on qualifying-style laps).

Quartararo also admits he’s already turning some of his attention to 2024.

“Sepang is an especially great circuit to get a better understanding of where we can improve, already keeping next year in mind, which is not that far away anymore,” he said.

“Of course, these three last GPs are very important too, and we will be focusing on getting the best results possible, as always, but we also have to make sure that we prepare for 2024 as much as we can.

“In general, I‘m quite happy with how things are going. We usually struggle towards the end of the season, but this year we are doing well, so I want to keep it going that way.”

Team director Massimo Meregalli confirmed some future work will be undertaken while ‘multitasking’ in the remaining three rounds:

“We are down to the final three race weekends of the season, starting with the Malaysian GP this weekend.

“We will be multitasking throughout: we can already work towards 2024, and we will still try to go all out in the Sprints and Races, aiming for good results.”

Meanwhile, Franco Morbidelli is starting his final three races as a Yamaha rider, before switching to Pramac Ducati in 2024.

“The one-week break was a good opportunity to catch our breath for the final push of the 2023 season,” said Morbidelli, currently 13th in the world championship.

“We saw in Thailand that our speed and pace is up there, but the difficulties lie in our qualifying position, so we aim to work on that again this weekend.

“The Malaysian GP always comes with its own unique challenges: it can be sunny and very hot, which is physically demanding, or we can get one of the typical rainstorms and very wet conditions, which is mentally demanding, so we need to be ready for anything.

“We will do our best!

Quartararo and new team-mate Alex Rins will try an updated version of the 2024 Yamaha prototype at the Valencia test on November 28, when Morbidelli will get his first taste of the title winning Desmosedici.

After podiums in two of the previous three rounds, Quartararo and Yamaha could only manage 14th place at Phillip Island. A weekend where, Quartararo said, “nothing was positive”.

After finishing 20-seconds behind race-winning countryman Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati), Quartararo was asked if one winter is enough for Yamaha to close the gap for 2024:

“We need 15 winters to really be like them,” Quartararo replied. “But like I said, to be like them for me is not the goal. The goal is to get closer. Because every year we make maybe one step in one area, but we lose two steps in another.

“The chassis that we had in the past was magical, you could do whatever you wanted with the bike. The bike was slow, but the bike was turning like hell. Now the bike is slow but it’s not turning.

“Of course, the engine is faster [this year], but the other ones also improved their engine, so the difference is the same. But they improved so much the chassis, I don’t know if by chassis or aero.

“Every year the gap is bigger and bigger, even if in some areas we improve. But we have to reduce the gap to the others [for 2024]. This is my main goal.”

Quartararo – winless since July 2022 – starts the final four rounds of the season, in Thailand this weekend, holding tenth place in the world championship, as the top rider on a Japanese bike.

Currently bottom of the constructors’ standings behind Ducati, KTM and Aprilia, Yamaha and Honda might benefit from proposed changes to the technical concession rules to speed up their recovery next season.

Left at the tail of the timesheets throughout Friday, Quartararo gave Yamaha brief hope with seventh place in Saturday’s final practice.

But the Frenchman was back to 17th in qualifying, with team-mate Franco Morbidelli just 20th.

Quartararo then lost more ground on the opening lap of the grand prix before passing Morbidelli, Pol Espargaro, Raul Fernandez and finally a fading Marc Marquez (the top Honda) to take 14th place on the last lap.

“It was a tough qualifying and a tough race,” said Quartararo, who crossed the line in the wheeltracks of Miguel Oliveira. “We have to keep working to make a step forward.

“I didn‘t expect to have this feeling, I expected much better. But it is what it is, and we have to keep working hard, as always, to find a solution.”

Despite his own disappointment, Quartararo had been quick to congratulate countryman Johann Zarco on a debut victory, 20.949s ahead of him, during the slowdown lap.

Morbidelli, one of only three riders to use the medium rather than hard front tyre, finished in 17th place, a distant 37.7s behind Zarco.

“I need to be content with the first half of the race I did. Then, unfortunately, I dropped a bit too much in the second half,” Morbidelli said. “Maybe the medium front wasn‘t the right choice, but anyway, if we ride tomorrow, we‘ll try to make another step, have a better start, and give even more.”

The Australian MotoGP was Yamaha’s lowest-scoring main race of the season, after 14th and 15th places at Silverstone.

Team director Massimo Meregalli admitted the writing was on the wall for the M1s, which often struggle to pass other bikes, after the nightmare qualifying.

“We have been struggling all weekend to find a good pace. The results in qualifying were also disappointing, so we knew from that point on that this race would be very difficult, and it was like that,” Meregalli said.

“There is not much to say at the moment. It is also difficult to believe that we can make drastic improvements on the bike for tomorrow, but we have 20 hours to come up with a solution.

“However, it remains to be seen if they will be of use for tomorrow. It will all depend on the weather how the Sunday Sprint plays out.”

The half-distance Sprint, which swapped places with the main grand prix due to weather fears for Sunday, is due to start at 1pm local time.

However, that will depend on whether the forecast extreme wind, rain and cold temperatures materialise.

The Frenchman’s prospects weren’t helped when he caught a cruising Augusto Fernandez at the end of the afternoon hour, for which the Tech3 GASGAS rookie received a three-place grid penalty.

“No excuses, I didn’t see him,” said Fernandez.

Nonetheless, Quartararo found it ‘crazy’ to be down in 17th despite lapping less than one-second from fastest man Brad Binder and half-a-second under his Friday best from last year.

The problem for the Monster Yamaha star is that Binder lapped 1.5sec under the quickest 2022 Friday lap time (by Johann Zarco).

“We struggled on turning, more than last year,” Quartararo said. “I’m 1sec away from the top guy, and my team-mate is also struggling. Today was worse than I expected.

“I’m half a second faster than last year, but I‘m 17th. This is crazy. The tyre with the harder carcass that we had in Indonesia helped us last week. Here it‘s a different story.

“With the race being held tomorrow instead of Sunday, we have to improve and try to be at the front.”

Team-mate Franco Morbidelli was left 21st and last, 1.965s from Binder.

“We struggled today. We don‘t have the speed that the top guys have,” said the Italian. “We‘re missing corner speed and top speed, so that‘s what we‘re working on.”

The revised schedule means there is now only final practice and qualifying before the full 27-lap race starts on Saturday afternoon.

“After a difficult FP1, we knew that the practice was going to be really tough,” said team director Massimo Meregalli. “We started the afternoon session with medium rear tyres on the first run, and our lap times were pretty far from the competitors.

“Once we moved on to the soft rear, we made a significant improvement in terms of the lap times. But then, when the moment came to do the time attack, we couldn‘t make the step that the others made, so we missed out on a place in Q2 by a big margin.

“We have an indication of what the problem is, but it won’t be easy to fix it, considering that the time available to work on the bike tomorrow will be very short. However, we will try all we can.

“This Saturday will be even tougher than usual, as the schedule has changed: the Race will be held Saturday afternoon instead of the Sprint due to Sunday’s predicted weather conditions.

“This makes FP2 [Saturday morning] more important too. Besides the setting changes, we also have to work on the tyre choice for the Race, which we usually do after the Sprint.”