Yamaha prepares a “totally different motorcycle” for its V4

Yamaha could quickly no longer distinguish itself from other manufacturers by its engine architecture. Since Suzuki's departure two years ago, the M1s have been the only machines on the grid to be equipped with an in-line four-cylinder, all other brands having ended up adopting a V4, however the Iwata firm is actively working in this sense.

In September, Motorsport.com revealed that Yamaha was working on the development of a V4, which its big boss Lin Jarvis subsequently confirmed with its sights set on the 2027 season, which will see the introduction of new technical regulations, including a reduction in the displacement. Now would be an ideal time to adopt new technology.

First tests are imminent and even almost took place at the end of 2024. IThey will not only concern the performance of the engine itself: a change in architecture influences the entire behavior of the motorcycle, which requires rethinking it as a whole in order to really benefit from the modifications… for the moment without really know if there will be a profit.

“When we talk about a V4, we shouldn’t just talk about the engine”explained Max Bartolini, technical director of Yamaha, to the official MotoGP website. “A V4 means you have to build a completely different bike: a different chassis, different weight distribution, different parts on the bike…But at the moment we have no idea if it is more fast or not. So you have to build the engine, build the bike, check if it's faster and then decide.”

Yamaha will not have a lot of time to make this decision, since the technical team will have to quickly allocate financial and human resources to the most promising project for the season. 2027 : “A decision will have to be made in 2025. We hope to have the information to decide in 2025.”

“2027 is getting closer and whatever happens, we cannot continue to develop many parallel projects, it requires a lot of time and effort so a quick decision will be necessary”added Bartolini, assuring that Yamaha has no dogma regarding the technology to favor: “We take the fastest package, no matter which one it is.”