Despite finishing the 2021 season like a runner-up, Franco Morbidelli will once again jump on his older ‘A-spec’ YZR-M1 for 2021.
The Italian race the entire 2021 season having a slightly modified 2021 M1 but arrived on the scene as the top Yamaha rider with 158 points, just 13 points behind champion Joan Mir.
The former VR46 Academy rider was ahead of Maverick Vinales (132pts), followed by Fabio Quartararo (127pts) and Valentino Rossi (66pts).
Nonetheless, the 26-year-old rider admitted it came like a surprise when Yamaha brought upgrades towards the bike for Qatar pre-season testing.
The upgrades is anticipated to resolve some of the problems that surfaced last year.
“Well, yes, because they were really quite simple, pretty substantial and in pretty easy directions.
“So, I believe the updates that Yamaha brought will also work in another tracks.
“This is exactly what I think and what I hope at the same time,” he explained to Autosport.
Morbidelli ended the pre-season testing in Qatar fourth overall with only 0.140 seconds behind Vinales and Quartararo.
The 2021 MotoGP will kickstart on March 28 in Qatar.
