New Yamaha V4 MotoGP prototype revealed for the first time

Yamaha’s highly-anticipated V4 MotoGP bike has been revealed for the first time at Misano, ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix.

Following plenty of private testing, the Japanese company’s new V4-powered M1 will be raced by test rider Augusto Fernandez during this weekend’s races as part of a wildcard entry.

The switch to a V4 engine signals a major shift in philosophy from Yamaha, and should it decide to race the V4 in 2026, it would be breaking a 23-year run with the inline-four power unit in MotoGP. Yamaha has been using an inline-powered engine since the start of the four-stroke era in 2002.

Described as “the start of a new era” by Yamaha, Paolo Pavesio, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing, said:

"The development of the V4-powered prototype is the result of a collaborative effort between Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (YMC) in Japan, Yamaha Motor Racing (YMR) in Europe, and a select group of technical partners, alongside the Yamaha Factory Racing Test Team.

"The track will ultimately determine whether we have achieved our goals, but I'm already proud of the challenging spirit we've embraced in reshaping how we work: faster, more agile, and more open to leveraging our global assets, both organizationally and technically.

"Within this renewed approach, signing Andrea and Augusto last year was a pivotal moment in bringing Plan V to life. Given its scope, the upcoming 850cc project, and the change in tyre supplier, having two test riders was essential. Their complementary strengths were also a key consideration: Andrea brings a development discipline that aligns perfectly with our pursuit of high-quality feedback.

“His decades at the top of MotoGP and deep technical expertise make him an invaluable asset. Augusto, meanwhile, has seamlessly complemented Andrea's work, especially through his contributions in tests and wild-card entries. As a recent full-time MotoGP rider still in peak form, he's instrumental in pushing the limits of our new V4 engine and prototype bike. These stress tests not only yield critical data but also offer a clear view of our competitive reality."

The new Yamaha V4 M1 has already made its official debut after finishing in 21st place during first free practice at Misano. Interestingly, though, Fernandez’s fastest lap time was very similar to that of Yamaha factory racer Alex Rins, who is still riding the inline-four M1 at the Italian circuit.

Rins and Quartararo will continue to use the inline-four-powered M1 this weekend, before getting their official debuts on the V4 bike during a one-day test at Misano next Monday (September 15).

Yamaha’s current MotoGP bike has made major steps forward in 2025, which could make it difficult for the V4 machine to clearly show more performance. However, we will soon find out whether Yamaha’s decision to introduce the V4 M1 was the right move.

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