Emerging MotoGP star discusses 'experience he hopes to avoid in the future' post-2024

Raul Fernandez shares thoughts on mid-year transition to Aprilia specifications

Raul Fernandez expresses his preference to avoid having to switch motorcycles in the middle of a MotoGP season again, after transitioning from the 2023 Aprilia model to the 2024-specification bike.

The Trackhouse competitor initiated the season on the previous year's Aprilia model and consistently vied for top 10 positions, securing his highest grand prix finish of the year in Barcelona with a sixth place.

Starting with the British Grand Prix, Fernandez transitioned to using the 2024 RS-GP model but faced challenges in adapting to it, achieving a top result of 10th place twice during the latter part of the season.

As the sole racer for Aprilia in 2025, Fernandez was burdened with a significant amount of development duties, leaving him with little to no time to concentrate on his own progress.

Finishing the season ranked 16th in points, Fernandez mentions he "didn't progress" throughout the year and wishes to avoid having to switch motorcycles mid-season in the future.

"In the final moments, he expressed, it was extremely challenging."

"Our performance didn't see any enhancement. It's likely because we experimented with numerous aspects and had limited time for ourselves.

"Therefore, our attention was dedicated to enhancing the project and attempting to grasp numerous aspects."

"I experimented extensively with last year's bike, altering numerous aspects. We made various attempts and needed to gain a deeper understanding of many elements."

"Ultimately, our understanding fell short. It's quite disappointing. True, we grasped many aspects, but ultimately, I found them inapplicable. That's the disheartening aspect."

"I have no intention of repeating this action [switching bikes during a campaign] next year or ever again in my lifetime.

"I prefer to avoid doing this again. It's quite challenging to switch out the entire bicycle mid-season."

"Altering minor aspects is acceptable, but the bicycle is entirely different."

"Thus, there are numerous adjustments you must make to your riding technique. Unfortunately, it wasn't beneficial for us."

Fernandez has extended his stay at Trackhouse for an additional two years, and next season, he will team up with the current Moto2 world champion, Ai Ogura.

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Emerging MotoGP star discusses 'experience he hopes to avoid repeating' post-2024

Raul Fernandez shares thoughts on his mid-year transition to Aprilia specifications

Raul Fernandez expressed his preference to avoid switching motorcycles in the middle of a MotoGP season again, after transitioning from the 2023 Aprilia model to the 2024 specification.

The rider from Trackhouse began the season on the previous year's Aprilia, regularly contending within the top 10 and securing his highest grand prix finish of the year with a sixth place in Barcelona.

Starting from the British Grand Prix, Fernandez transitioned to riding the 2024 RS-GP model, but found it challenging to adapt to, achieving a top result of 10th place twice in the latter part of the season.

Being Aprilia's sole rider for the 2025 season, Fernandez was burdened with a significant amount of development tasks, leaving him with little time to concentrate on his own needs.

Finishing the season in 16th place in the standings, Fernandez expressed that he saw no progress throughout the year and wishes to avoid having to switch motorcycles mid-season in the future.

"In the final moments, it was extremely challenging," he stated.

"We didn't make progress. Perhaps we experimented with numerous aspects and lacked sufficient time for ourselves.

"Thus, our attention was dedicated to enhancing the project and striving to comprehend numerous aspects."

"I experimented extensively with last year's bike. Numerous adjustments were made, and we engaged in a lot of trial and error to gain a deeper understanding of various aspects."

"Ultimately, our comprehension fell short. It's quite vexing. Indeed, we grasped numerous concepts, yet ultimately, I found them inapplicable. That's where the irritation lies."

"I have no desire to switch bikes during a campaign again, either next year or at any point in my future."

"I prefer not to go through this again. It's quite challenging to switch out the entire bike midway through the season.

"Altering minor aspects is acceptable, but the bicycle is entirely different.

"Thus, altering numerous aspects of your riding technique is necessary. Unfortunately, it didn't yield any benefits for us."

Fernandez has extended his stay at Trackhouse for an additional two years, and next season, he will team up with the current Moto2 world champion, Ai Ogura.

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A Ducati satellite team competitor aims to challenge Marc Marquez in the 2025 MotoGP season, viewing it as a fantastic chance.

Fabio Di Giannantonio has expressed his ambition to challenge Ducati's leading MotoGP competitors, Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, in 2025, upon transitioning to the GP25.

The rider from VR46 has secured the sole additional factory Ducati set to compete in 2025, apart from the main factory team, but has not had the chance to test the motorcycle due to ending the previous season prematurely for shoulder surgery.

Throughout the majority of the season, Di Giannantonio consistently ranked as the top runner-up GP23 competitor, trailing only behind Marquez, and managed to finish in front of the well-regarded VR46 teammate Marco Bezzecchi, even though he was absent for the last two races.

Di Giannantonio has mentioned that he hasn't set particular goals for 2025, highlighting that the minimal pressure on VR46 allows him to truly enjoy the experience.

"Di Giannantonio described it as a wonderful chance during his conversation with GPOne."

"This season on the GP25 presents a wonderful chance to enhance one's riding skills even further."

"Taking on this role is a duty I've been seeking my entire life, yet despite this, we aren't in the 'red' zone at the moment, which means we still have the opportunity to 'engage'."

"Being part of an official team comes with a unique kind of pressure since winning is a necessity. I believe Pecco and Marc will particularly sense this kind of obligation."

"We have the chance to enjoy ourselves, aim to be the nonconformists, we can attempt to irritate them, and this will also present me with the chance to gain a significant amount of knowledge from them by operating at their level.

"Thus, I perceive no drawbacks, only significant potential."

"I regret not securing any podium finishes this year for the team; I genuinely wanted to perform well to witness their celebrations."

"As I frequently mention, I prefer not to dwell on the outcomes at this stage; our focus should be on development and savoring the journey. Embrace the GP25, accelerate, relish the present for which we've worked hard, cherish our special bond with Ducati, and ultimately, we'll assess our performance."

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Bezzecchi anticipates his fortunate move to Aprilia in 2025

Marco Bezzecchi describes his move to the factory Aprilia team, where he'll be partnering with the newly crowned MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin, as a "big luck" for him.

Bezzecchi is set to join an official team for the first time, moving to Aprilia after spending three seasons at VR46 Ducati, where he secured three grand prix victories.

Bezzecchi is set to team up with Martin, who edged out Francesco Bagnaia by a margin of 10 points in a fiercely contested season that culminated in a thrilling finale in Barcelona.

The departing VR46 racer commended both, yet emphasized that Martin “earned it more” and views teaming up with him as “a chance for learning” in 2025.

"He mentioned that Jorge had an incredible season the previous year."

This year, he showed improvement, maintaining a consistent pace, speed, and competitiveness in every race weekend throughout the year.

"He may not have secured as many victories as Pecco, yet ultimately, he emerged as the superior competitor, proving that speed alone doesn't guarantee championship success."

"I truly feel bad for Pecco, and I hold no ill will towards Jorge, as we are friends."

"Clearly, my connection is stronger with Pecco, and I've provided more support to Pecco."

"Jorge truly excelled and rightfully earned the championship title. Pecco also had a strong claim, yet ultimately, Jorge proved to be the more deserving winner."

"I'm confident that Pecco will make a comeback; today will be a day he'll never forget, and he'll return with great strength."

"Having Jorge as a colleague next season is a great fortune because he's the top performer."

"Thus, it presents a chance to gain knowledge, a chance to acquire insights from the premier cyclist globally."

Throughout the 2024 season, Bezzecchi faced difficulties while competing on the GP23, managing to secure only a single podium finish. Despite his efforts, he concluded the year trailing behind his teammate, Fabio Di Giannantonio, in the overall rankings. Notably, Di Giannantonio was absent for the final two races of the season due to undergoing a shoulder

"He remarked that it had been a challenging season."

"I didn't anticipate facing such difficulties. However, from the initial trial, I experienced a challenging feeling with the motorcycle.

"Reflecting on my emotions regarding the bike from the Sepang trials to the present, the change is significant."

"However, the outcome of the performance didn't meet my expectations, naturally."

"Indeed, it was a challenging year. I'll make an effort to explain everything in detail, to make sense of it all."

"I'm confident that I've experienced significant growth over the year, not only on a personal level but also in my skills as a rider. This is because I consistently faced challenges with feeling comfortable on the bike throughout the season, requiring me to continually adjust."

"Undoubtedly, I had higher expectations and aimed to achieve greater success."

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Luca Marini offers an interesting comparison between Honda and Yamaha in MotoGP

The Honda competitor discusses how its 2024 season stacks up against Yamaha's

Luca Marini opines that Honda has surpassed Yamaha in terms of enhancements to their MotoGP motorcycle in 2024, although Yamaha had a significant advantage from the outset.

The 2024 season proved challenging for both Japanese manufacturers, as neither managed to secure a spot on the podium throughout the 20-race series.

Yamaha secured a 49-point lead over Honda in the constructors' rankings, with their top rider Fabio Quartararo finishing 58 points ahead of LCR's Johann Zarco, making him the foremost representative for the Japanese brand.

Throughout the season, both companies achieved significant enhancements, with Marini firmly believing Honda accomplished greater advancements.

However, its consistent lagging behind Yamaha concealed this reality.

"At the season's close, he expressed that they had a disadvantage from the start, given the other team's significantly more advanced beginning."

"We made significant progress and narrowed the distance, but we haven't quite reached their level yet."

"I believe their continuous progress throughout the season was also a key factor. They didn't remain stagnant but instead, they put in significant effort to improve the bike."

"Throughout the season, the motorcycle underwent enhancements, similar to our own motorcycle."

"I believe we achieved greater advancements compared to Yamaha, although they began at an advantageous position over us, particularly with Quartararo who is quite familiar with the Yamaha and can push the bike to its maximum capability."

"Certainly, it complements his way of riding; he possesses a deeper understanding of the motorcycle, consistently outperforming us… well, almost always."

"However, most of the time. Certainly, as a rider, I'll be stronger on the Honda next year."

He also mentioned, "I believe they've taken a significant leap this season."

From the moment I arrived at this factory, I've witnessed numerous transformations, and as we move into next year, we can expect even further alterations.

"Indeed, it fills me with optimism. I'm eager to observe the performance of the new engineers and without a doubt, everyone is committed to restoring Honda's leading status."

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MotoGP rising star discusses 'experience I'd prefer not to go through again' after 2024

Raul Fernandez shares his thoughts on changing Aprilia specifications mid-season.

Raul Fernandez expressed his desire to avoid the experience of switching motorcycles during a MotoGP season again, referencing his transition from the 2023 Aprilia model to the 2024 version.

The Trackhouse racer began the season using the previous year's Aprilia motorcycle and consistently competed among the top 10, securing his highest grand prix finish of the year with a sixth place in Barcelona.

Starting with the British Grand Prix, Fernandez transitioned to the 2024 RS-GP model and found it challenging to grasp. Throughout the latter part of the season, his top performance was securing 10th place twice.

With Fernandez being the sole Aprilia rider left for the 2025 season, he was responsible for a significant amount of development work. This left him without the opportunity to concentrate on his own progress.

Concluding the year ranked 16th in the standings, Fernandez expressed that he "didn't make any progress" throughout the season and wishes to avoid switching bikes mid-season in the future.

"In the end, it was extremely challenging," he remarked.

"We didn't make any progress. Perhaps we experimented with many different things but didn't have much time for ourselves."

"We concentrated on enhancing the project while attempting to comprehend numerous aspects."

"I experimented extensively with last year's bike, making numerous adjustments. We conducted various tests and had to gain a deeper understanding of several aspects."

"Ultimately, we realized that we had learned nothing. It's quite exasperating. Sure, we grasped numerous concepts, but I wasn't able to apply them in the end. That's what's so frustrating."

"I have no intention of swapping bikes during a campaign either next year or at any point in the future."

"I hope to avoid doing this again. It's quite challenging to switch out the entire bike halfway through the season."

"If you alter minor elements, that's acceptable, but the bicycle is entirely different."

"You have to make significant adjustments to the way you ride, which wasn't beneficial for us."

Fernandez will continue his association with Trackhouse for an additional two years, and next year, he will be accompanied by Ai Ogura, the current Moto2 world champion.

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A rider from the Ducati satellite team is looking forward to challenging Marc Marquez in the 2025 MotoGP season. He describes it as a "wonderful chance."

Fabio Di Giannantonio believes he will be able to challenge the official Ducati MotoGP competitors, Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, in 2025 when he joins the GP25 team.

The VR46 team member has secured the sole factory Ducati seat available for 2025, aside from those in the main team. However, he has not yet had the opportunity to test the motorcycle because he concluded last season prematurely to undergo shoulder surgery.

Throughout most of the year, Di Giannantonio ranked as the second top GP23 racer after Marquez in the rankings and managed to surpass his well-regarded VR46 teammate, Marco Bezzecchi, even though he was absent for the last two races.

Di Giannantonio mentioned that he isn't aiming for particular outcomes in 2025, but he acknowledges that the reduced pressure on VR46 gives him a chance to "enjoy himself a lot."

"It's truly a fantastic chance, that's the reality," Di Giannantonio mentioned during a conversation with GPOne.

"This season on the GP25 presents a fantastic chance to improve as a rider."

"It's a duty I've sought throughout my life, yet we aren't the 'reds' at this moment, which means we still have the freedom to 'play'."

Being part of an official team comes with a unique set of duties, primarily the pressure to secure victories. This obligation will likely be particularly significant for both Pecco and Marc.

"We can enjoy ourselves by taking on the role of outsiders and attempting to irritate them. This approach will also allow me to gain valuable insights by collaborating with them on an equal footing."

"I view this as a significant chance and don't perceive any downsides."

"I'm disappointed that I couldn't secure any podium finishes for the team this year. I truly want to perform well so that we can all enjoy a celebration together."

"As I frequently mention, I prefer not to focus on the outcomes just yet. Our aim should be to develop and relish the journey: savor the GP25, speed through the process, appreciate this hard-earned moment, cherish the special connection with Ducati, and ultimately, we'll assess the results to see how things turned out."

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The Fortunate Break for Marco Bezzecchi in the 2025 MotoGP Season

Bezzecchi Anticipates Joining Aprilia for the 2025 Season

Marco Bezzecchi considers joining the factory Aprilia team with the newly crowned MotoGP world champion, Jorge Martin, as a “great stroke of luck” for him.

Having spent three seasons with the VR46 Ducati team and securing three grand prix victories during that period, Bezzecchi is set to join a factory team for the first time with Aprilia.

Bezzecchi is set to team up with Martin, who narrowly secured the championship by defeating Francesco Bagnaia with a 10-point lead in a fiercely contested season that concluded dramatically in Barcelona.

The departing VR46 racer had high praise for both individuals, but mentioned that Martin "deserved it more" and views teaming up with him in 2025 as "a chance to gain knowledge."

"He mentioned that Jorge had an impressive season last year."

Throughout this year, he showed improvement, maintaining a steady and rapid pace and staying competitive at every weekend event.

While he didn't secure as many victories as Pecco, ultimately, he proved to be the strongest. This shows that the fastest competitor isn't always the one who clinches the championship.

"I feel really bad for Pecco. I don't have any issues with Jorge; in fact, we're friends."

"Naturally, I have a stronger connection with Pecco and I offered him more support."

"However, Jorge performed exceptionally well and earned the championship title. Pecco was also deserving, but ultimately, Jorge was more deserving."

"I'm confident that Pecco will make a strong return. This day will be unforgettable for him, and he'll come back with even more strength."

"Having Jorge as a teammate next year is a huge advantage since he is the strongest competitor."

"It's a chance to gain knowledge and to receive insights from the top rider globally."

Throughout the 2024 season, Bezzecchi faced difficulties while riding the GP23. He managed to secure only a single podium finish and ended the year trailing his teammate, Fabio Di Giannantonio, in the rankings. Notably, Di Giannantonio was absent from the final two races due to undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury.

"It was indeed a challenging season," he remarked.

"I was surprised by how challenging it was. From the initial test, the bike gave me a really tough feeling."

"Reflecting on how I felt during the Sepang test compared to now, the change is significant."

"However, the performance did not meet my expectations, naturally."

"It was an extremely challenging year. I'll attempt to explain everything and gain a clearer understanding."

Throughout the year, I've experienced significant personal growth, and I've also developed as a rider. Despite not feeling entirely comfortable on the bike during the season, I had to constantly adjust and adapt.

"However, I definitely anticipated achieving more and aimed to accomplish greater things."

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Luca Marini offers an interesting perspective on the Honda and Yamaha MotoGP rivalry, suggesting a comparison between Honda's upcoming 2024 season and Yamaha's performance.

Luca Marini thinks that Honda has made greater advancements than Yamaha on its MotoGP bike for 2024, although Yamaha had initially been at a more advanced level.

The 2024 season proved challenging for the Japanese manufacturers, as neither managed to secure a spot on the podium throughout the 20-round series.

Yamaha secured a lead of 49 points over Honda in the constructors' rankings, while Fabio Quartararo emerged as the top representative for the Japanese manufacturers, surpassing LCR's Johann Zarco by 58 points.

Throughout the season, both manufacturers showed noticeable enhancements, but Marini believes that Honda made greater strides.

However, Yamaha's consistent lagging behind obscured this reality.

"At the conclusion of the season, he remarked that they were consistently lagging since their opponents began at a more advanced level."

"We made significant progress and narrowed the difference, but we're still not on par with them."

"They continued to improve the bike throughout the season, refusing to remain stagnant and putting in significant effort."

"As the season went on, the performance of the bike got better, similar to how our own

"In my opinion, we've progressed more than Yamaha; however, they had a head start, particularly with Quartararo, who has a deep understanding of the Yamaha and can push the bike to its maximum potential."

"It's certainly a perfect fit for his riding style, as he has a deeper understanding of the bike and often outperforms us… though not always."

"However, for the majority of the time, I am confident that as a rider, I will be stronger on the Honda next year."

He mentioned, "In my opinion, they have made significant progress this season."

"From the moment I started working at this factory, I've witnessed numerous transformations, and even more are set to occur next year."

"It fills me with optimism. We'll have to wait and see how the new team members and engineers perform, but undoubtedly, everyone is eager to restore Honda to its former glory."

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Jorge Martin hails Pecco Bagnaia as a MotoGP legend

2024 world champion commends his competitor Bagnaia

Jorge Martin regards Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi as the greatest MotoGP riders of all time, yet he believes that two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia is starting to join their elite ranks.

Over the past two years, Martin and Bagnaia have competed fiercely for the championship, with Martin ultimately securing victory in their intense rivalry throughout the 2024 season.

The new Aprilia team member may have secured victory in just three grand prix races compared to Ducati's Bagnaia, who has 11 wins, yet Martin's steady performance throughout the season enabled him to clinch his inaugural MotoGP title by a margin of 10 points in the season's last race.

Securing the title as the first independent team rider in the contemporary period, Martin has since stated that he triumphed over "the best version" of Bagnaia to achieve this feat.

During a conversation with the Spanish outlet AS, he continued to express high regard for his main competitor, while also reflecting on his own place in the discussion regarding the greatest in MotoGP history.

"Martin believes Marquez ranks among the greatest in history, alongside Valentino, and notes that Pecco is joining this elite circle."

"Given his performance outcomes, in my view, he's already surpassed [Casey] Stoner, for instance."

"I managed to outperform Pecco, so what does that say about my position? I'm not trying to boast. I remain humble, fully aware that there's still a considerable journey ahead of me."

"However, it's evident that I regard myself as being on par with him in terms of athletic ability."

Despite ongoing debates over which MotoGP era reigns supreme, Martin contends that "the significance of this championship remains exceptionally great."

"Certainly, my preference would have been to compete for the championship alongside top competitors such as Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez – who continues to race – or Stoner, along with numerous other racers I admired on TV as a child.

"Ultimately, it all comes down to specific instances. Currently, Pecco and Marquez are the ones in the spotlight, and they were the competitors I needed to surpass."

"In the current era, the standard is incredibly high, making the significance of this title equally substantial."

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Maverick Vinales regards his time with Aprilia in MotoGP as crucial for his career

'From start to finish, they showed great warmth'

Maverick Vinales expressed contentment with the atmosphere at Aprilia MotoGP team upon his departure, despite acknowledging that the motorcycle lacked certain elements.

In the initial months of the 2021 season, Vinales' future in racing seemed doubtful during his tenure with Yamaha, due to a deteriorating partnership with the Japanese brand and a noticeable decline in his performances.

Opting to terminate his contract prematurely before the summer hiatus, Vinales was dismissed from the squad following a situation at the Styrian Grand Prix, where it was discovered he intentionally pushed his M1's engine beyond its revving limit.

Aprilia threw him a career-saving opportunity, as Vinales came on board with the brand for the last few races of 2021 and then committed to three complete seasons riding the RS-GP.

In 2024, Vinales reached a pinnacle moment during his stint with Aprilia by securing a win at the Americas Grand Prix, marking a historic achievement as the first rider in the contemporary period to clinch victories riding for three distinct manufacturers.

In the 2024 season, he secured a higher position in the rankings than his Aprilia team-mate Aleix Espargaro for the first time.

In an interview with Crash.net in November, when questioned regarding his experience with Aprilia, Vinales expressed: "Clearly, from a personal perspective, I am quite pleased with my journey at Aprilia.

"I came across truly wonderful individuals, individuals full of passion. They showed great warmth right from the start through to the conclusion.

"This is a very positive indicator. It suggests that we performed exceptionally well."

Clearly, from a technical standpoint, certain elements were notably absent this year.

"However, it's essential for us to feel joy. The components came together perfectly, ultimately leading to successful outcomes."

"In this era, seemingly marked by the presence of a lone factory on the moon, we've managed to maintain a leading position."

"Thus, we've managed to accomplish positive actions. Therefore, it's important for us to feel joyful."

Vinales is set to switch to KTM in the upcoming season, having inked a long-term agreement to become part of the Tech3 team. Meanwhile, Aprilia's factory team is gearing up for 2024 with a completely fresh duo, featuring world champion Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi.

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Alex Rins discusses the importance of creating his unique approach to Yamaha, rather than mirroring Fabio Quartararo

“It’s crucial for me to customize my bike at this moment”

Alex Rins expressed his satisfaction with the advancements he's achieved on the Yamaha MotoGP motorcycle in 2024, yet he acknowledges that future improvements won't be realized by merely imitating Fabio Quartararo's configuration.

The racer, who has won grand prix races six times, transitioned from Honda to Yamaha for the 2024 season. This change represents his third move to a different manufacturer in three consecutive years, following a stint with Suzuki in 2022.

A season plagued by injuries impacted Rins' initial season with the M1, yet as the season neared its conclusion, he started to show improvement, achieving his top finish of eighth at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Looking back at his debut season at Yamaha, Rins believes teaming up with 2021 world champion Quartararo has benefited both of them.

He believes his suggestions for improving the bike have been taken into account. However, he points out that he can't simply adopt Quartararo's settings for his next move with the M1 since he doesn't perform well using them.

"Ultimately, the benefit of having Fabio around, both for myself and, as I believe, for him too, is that we motivate each other," he stated.

"When I outpace him, he makes an extra effort to surpass my speed."

"When he outpaces me, I strive to push myself further to surpass his speed."

"The key distinction between us lies in the motorcycle. Both of us are skilled cyclists. He has been with Yamaha since 2019, making that bike his own."

"I have to work on my bike myself at the moment. This season presented some challenges in that regard, as Yamaha is aware, due to my transition from a different team, which made the process more time-consuming.

"I'm content because I shared my perspective and they were attentive to what I had to say."

"It's evident that the current configuration isn't suitable for me. Whenever I attempt to utilize his configuration, my speed just isn't there. Our riding techniques are quite distinct from each other."

"Thus, my team and I require a period to grasp the concept."

"Having a bike that isn't performing as well as the others makes everything tougher. So, I'm pleased with how I'm advancing, and I believe Yamaha shares that sentiment."

Rins acknowledges that despite the shortcomings in his performance in 2024, the year remained uniquely memorable for him.

"It's challenging, yet it holds a unique significance when you reflect on the journey, observing the development and the course of the season since the moment I first mounted the Yamaha," he further explained.

"Undoubtedly, it was a period marked by numerous highs and lows."

"If asked whether I'm satisfied with my progress and the work I've accomplished at Yamaha, I'd say I'm fairly pleased because I managed to enhance the motorcycle."

"I managed to leverage my expertise, they listened to me, and now we're collaborating effectively."

"The advancement and adjustment on the bicycle happened quite smoothly and swiftly."

"Midway through the season, I faced challenges due to sustaining an injury in Assen."

"Following this, my confidence experienced a slight dip. It required several races for me to maintain my peak performance consistently. However, I'm genuinely pleased with the progress I've made with the bike."

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