In what seems like a “steal the brains to win the game” plot, Yamaha has successfully recruited two stellar Ducati engineers, aiming to maintain their bond with the 2021 MotoGP champion, Fabio Quartararo. It is an intriguing move that gives a glimpse into the dark horse Yamaha would potentially emerge as, considering their poor performance in 2023.
The astute minds on board Yamaha’s team include Massimo Bartolini – the former Vehicle Performance Engineer at Ducati, now the new Technical Director at Yamaha, and Marco Nicotra, Ducati’s former head of Aerodynamics, who joined Yamaha in October.
Yamaha’s strategic play, smeared with a dash of wit in choosing Bartolini, an ally of Ducati’s chief Gigi Dall’Igna, magnifies their intent to rev up their competitive edge on the MotoGP grid. Especially since Quartararo’s contract with Yamaha expires at the end of this season, Yamaha’s intentions boil down to presenting a monster ride more competitive than last year’s, to convince the star rider to stay.
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While it remains a mystery if Bartolini will replace Kazutoshi Seki, the frontline of the M1 project last year, or join forces with him, Yamaha’s recruitments depict a more European-centric structure to their 2024 plans.
With the arrival of Ducati’s brains, Yamaha, the only manufacturer represented by two bikes on the 2024 grid, is bound to benefit from the new concessions regulations. Perhaps this is the fuel Yamaha needs to ignite a pit fire and keep Quartararo in their stables.
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