Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo kicked off his 2022 preparation at Jerez on Thursday but the big changes will wait until Sepang.

Monster Energy’s World Champion was seen aboard the YZR-M1 wheeled out at the Misano test two months ago, with Quartararo working on improving turning at the tight and twisty track.  

Due to November’s cool temperatures and strong winds, the Frenchman rolled out just after 11 o’clock, utilising the main part of the day to reacquaint himself with the 2022 prototype bike, new swing arm and electronic refinements. Posting a best time of 1‘38.020s on his 34th of 73 laps completed, he finished the first day ninth in the times, seventh-tenths off LCR Honda Takaaki Nakagami’s target.

“We tried the same prototype bike as we had at the Misano Test earlier this year,” Quartararo explained from the Jerez paddock on Thursday evening.

“We also tried some other things: a new swingarm and anti-wheelie electronics. It was very similar to Misano. We need to do some more work; this is just the first step. Tomorrow we have another day of testing. We will try some more items and get everything prepared and ready, and then I hope we can make a big step in terms of speed in Sepang.

“Jerez is a good track to improve turning in low-speed corners and try out a chassis, not so much an engine, because the straights are too short. The 2021 base was really good, but we were just missing a lot of top speed and some aerodynamics. We have almost three months to work on this before Sepang.”