V4 engine offers Yamaha “far more development” opportunities in MotoGP

Yamaha’s new V4-powered M1 made a handful of appearances in 2025, but the Iwata-based company has now officially ushered in its new era of racing in MotoGP.

The Monster Energy Yamaha team took the covers off its 2026 M1 earlier today (January 21, 2026) as part of its team launch in Jakarta, Indonesia. The new V4-powered bike will be ridden by Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, as well as Pramac duo Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jack Miller throughout the 2026 campaign, after officially replacing the inline-four M1 at the end of last year.

But while we knew this day was coming for some time, what happens from here on out is going to be a big story to follow. 

When you think of Yamaha in MotoGP, the first thing that might come to mind is the amount of success it’s had – Yamaha has won a total of 18 premier class titles. Or, you might just think about its crossplane inline-four engine, which has played a major role in aiding Yamaha’s success, especially in major world championship racing. 

With Suzuki withdrawing from MotoGP at the end of 2022, Yamaha has been the only brand  that’s used an inline-four engine since, with Ducati, Aprilia, KTM and Honda all using their own V4 power units.

But since 2022, success has also been very hard to come by for Yamaha, despite having Quartararo within its ranks. That, along with the need to find a lot more performance than in recent times, has altered how Yamaha wants to go racing with its M1.

But a fair question to ask, especially at this early stage in Yamaha’s V4 development, is how will it perform better? Well, Yamaha has given us some insight into the areas where it expects the V4 to outperform the previous inline-four engine. 

Speaking at the official Monster Energy Yamaha team launch, Takahiro Sumi, President of Yamaha Motor Racing, said:

“We've already seen encouraging signs: improved braking stability, better acceleration potential, and a more consistent feeling over long runs. Success early on in the season will not be measured just based on results: every lap adds knowledge that will propel us forward. 

“Our focus for 2026 is centred on accelerating development speed and ensuring seamless integration between design, testing, and racing. We strive to consistently gain momentum – the results will follow."

Yamaha will also have to manage developing its all-new V4-powered engine alongside its 2027 prototype, when engine sizes will be reduced from 1,000cc to 850cc. 

While much of the 2026 bike looks unchanged, the new M1 does feature a different approach at the rear of the bike, which is in line with what the other four V4-powered manufacturers deploy. The change involves a new exhaust pipe that sweeps up and under the rear of the bike.

Ultimately for Yamaha, this season and the performance of its new V4 engine is going to be crucial for several reasons.

One of those will be to try and retain its star rider Quartararo, who remains the last non-Ducati rider to win the MotoGP world championship (2021). Yamaha was also considered one of the go-to destinations for the sport’s top riders just a few years ago, but that has somewhat changed due to its lack of competitiveness in recent years.

But if the new V4 can help deliver success quickly, then Yamaha is likely to put itself back in the mix when it comes to signing the very best riders. 

Quartararo, who has mixed reviews about the new V4 previously, also spoke at the team’s launch about the new engine, saying: 

“It's exciting to start this new chapter. The V4 engine is a big change, and I can't wait to feel how it will develop on track. I also think the fans and the media are very curious.”

Yamaha’s new V4 will be on-track for the first time in 2026 at the MotoGP shakedown test on January 29-31, which takes place in Sepang, Malaysia.