Yamaha lived up to its expectations during Tuesday’s test in Barcelona, as Fabio Quartararo clocked the second-fastest time of the day.

The Japanese manufacturer debuted an upgraded version of the M1 in Barcelona, showcasing improvements to its chassis, aerodynamics, and engine.

Quartararo finished just 0.4 seconds behind Alex Marquez, who led the day on the dominant GP24. Quartararo also bettered his qualifying time from last weekend’s finale.

Quartararo’s teammate Alex Rins delivered a solid performance as well, securing eighth place. Meanwhile, Yamaha gathered crucial data from satellite riders Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller, following the inclusion of Pramac as a new satellite team.

Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli praised the test results, emphasizing the alignment between rider feedback and on-track improvements.

“The three areas we focused on—chassis, aerodynamics, and an updated engine—all provided positive feedback,” Meregalli told MotoGP’s official website. “But before making definitive judgments, we prefer to wait until the Sepang test in February. Evaluating at multiple circuits gives us a clearer picture. That said, the steps we’ve taken have brought both good feelings and tangible results, which is crucial. It’s a strong way to end a long and challenging season.”

Quartararo expressed optimism about the updates, noting the progress Yamaha made with the M1 after a season where it failed to secure a podium finish.

“It was a good day,” Quartararo told reporters. “We tested a lot of things, and even without doing a time attack, we set a better time than in qualifying. The new chassis and engine helped us clock our fastest time. While I was on the limit, there was room for improvement.”

The Barcelona test also hinted at more significant upgrades to come, with Quartararo revealing that Yamaha has planned major changes for the pre-season test in Malaysia from February 5-7. “The new engine gave us slightly more speed while maintaining agility, and the steering with the new chassis felt good,” he said. “We also tested a new fairing for top speed, but it didn’t show much improvement. However, the direction we’re heading is promising.”

Despite the progress, Quartararo highlighted ongoing weaknesses with the M1, particularly in corner exits. “There haven’t been significant improvements in corner exit performance, which remains a key area for us,” he explained. “The new chassis has slightly improved corner entry, but we still lack grip and power. While the extra power is a step forward, we need even more to close the gap.”

In contrast to Yamaha’s productive test, Honda’s approach left factory rider Joan Mir frustrated, as the team brought no new parts to evaluate, resulting in a 15th-place finish for Mir.