Yamaha has officially unveiled its all-new V4-powered YZR-M1 in Indonesia during the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team launch, marking a decisive shift in the manufacturer’s MotoGP future. According to Takahiro Sumi, the project signals the beginning of a new era for the brand. “2026 marks the start of Yamaha’s V4 era,” he said. “It’s an exciting chapter, but one that demands discipline, data and dedication from everyone involved.”
The significance of the move lies not just in the engine layout, but in how Yamaha has approached the transition. Rather than abandoning its existing machine, the V4-powered M1 was developed alongside the current bike throughout the 2025 season, an increasingly rare strategy in modern MotoGP. Sumi explained that parallel development across multiple platforms laid the groundwork for the new project, with early indicators pointing to gains in braking stability, acceleration potential, and consistency over longer race runs.
That long-term thinking underpins Yamaha’s outlook for 2026. Managing Director Paolo Pavesio described the new M1 as a starting point rather than a finished product, noting that the V4 platform offers considerably more development headroom than before. He added that the upcoming season will focus on building understanding incrementally, lap by lap and race by race.
Within the team, that philosophy is already shaping expectations. Team Director Massimo Meregalli characterised the V4 M1 as a completely new project, highlighting a steep but engaging learning curve, particularly during the initial test phase. From engineers and mechanics through to the riders, the emphasis is on collective progress from the outset.
For Yamaha’s riders, the change brings both challenge and opportunity. Fabio Quartararo described the V4 as a major shift and expressed eagerness to experience its evolution on track, while Álex Rins pointed to the expanded development potential offered by the new bike, despite the workload that lies ahead.
Beyond lap times and test results, the move to a V4 reflects a broader statement of intent. Yamaha remained competitive with an inline-four configuration long after much of the grid had moved on, underscoring the brand’s technical philosophy. That same mindset is now being applied to a platform with significantly greater scope for growth.
With a 22-round, 44-race season on the horizon, Yamaha is not positioning the V4 M1 as an instant solution. Instead, the focus is firmly on steady progress. And given what the brand achieved with an engine concept many believed had reached its limits, the potential of a modern V4 opens up intriguing possibilities for the seasons ahead.
