Despite finishing the 2020 season as a runner-up, Franco Morbidelli will once again jump on his older ‘A-spec’ YZR-M1 for 2021.
The Italian race the entire 2020 season with a slightly modified 2019 M1 but came out 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 as a surprise when Yamaha brought upgrades to the bike for Qatar pre-season testing.
The upgrades is expected to solve some of the issues that surfaced last year.
“Well, yes, because they were pretty simple, pretty substantial and in pretty easy directions.
“So, I think the updates that Yamaha brought will also work in the other tracks.
“This is what I think and what I hope at the same time,” he said to Autosport.
Morbidelli ended the pre-season testing in Qatar fourth overall with just 0.140 seconds behind Vinales and Quartararo.
The 2021 MotoGP will kickstart on March 28 in Qatar.
