As part of a restructuring initiative to persuade Fabio Quartararo to remain, Yamaha has enlisted the expertise of two engineers from Ducati.
Massimo Bartolini has departed from his role as Vehicle Performance Engineer at Ducati to assume the position of Yamaha’s new technical director.
This move follows Marco Nicotra, who made the switch from Ducati to become Yamaha’s Head of Aerodynamics in October.
Bartolini’s recruitment marks a significant advancement for Yamaha, especially considering their struggles in the challenging 2023 season. Having been a trusted associate of Ducati’s top executive, Gigi Dall’Igna, Yamaha aims to leverage Bartolini’s expertise for a substantial improvement.
The specific role Bartolini will play in relation to Kazutoshi Seki, who led the M1 project last year, remains unclear, whether as a replacement or a collaborative effort.
Bartolini’s addition signifies a shift towards a more European-centric structure in Yamaha’s 2024 plans. These strategic changes behind the scenes are geared towards retaining their star rider, Fabio Quartararo.
Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP champion, is nearing the end of his contract with Yamaha this season. Yamaha is fully aware that retaining Quartararo hinges on delivering a more competitive bike than the previous year, prompting these organizational adjustments.
Yamaha stands as the sole manufacturer with only two bikes on the 2024 grid, but they are poised to gain advantages from the recently implemented concessions regulations.