- First V4-powered Yamaha MotoGP bike
- Will be used in 2026 MotoGP season
Yamaha has officially unveiled its new V4-powered YZR-M1 at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, signalling a major shift in its MotoGP strategy. This move represents a departure from Yamaha’s long-standing reliance on an inline-four engine layout, which had been its signature powertrain approach for the last 23 years.
Notably, Yamaha had been the only manufacturer on the grid utilising an inline-four engine, but after pushing that configuration to its limits, particularly in terms of straight-line speed, they’ve now embraced the V4 format to stay competitive. Yamaha will compete with the new V4 in the 2026 MotoGP season.
The prototype made its debut at the upcoming San Marino Grand Prix, with test rider Augusto Fernández competing as a wild-card entry. Additionally, Yamaha’s factory riders Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins are expected to test the new bike during Monday’s post-race session, gathering crucial data and fine-tuning performance.
Alongside the technical leap, Yamaha extended its appreciation to fans worldwide, recognising their unwavering loyalty even as the team faced performance struggles in recent seasons. With multiple MotoGP championship wins in its history, Yamaha has experienced a decline, but hopes are high that the V4-powered YZR-M1 will reinvigorate their campaign. Many are optimistic that this upgrade will bolster Fabio Quartararo’s efforts to challenge Marc Márquez and Ducati’s dominance at the top of the standings next year.
