Yamaha Provides Important MotoGP V4 Engine Update

The 2026 MotoGP World Championship could see the debut of the new V4 engine from Yamaha, but on one condition.

Currently racing with an inline-four engine (albeit with a crossplane crank) which has been the case throughout the brand’s time in MotoGP, Yamaha is hopeful its new V4 power unit will be faster so that it can use it as early as 2026. But, there’s a catch; it will only do so if the new engine’s development shows improved performance compared to its current unit.

The Japanese brand has confirmed that testing of the new V4 engine is underway, with reports surfacing earlier in the week that the new engine was being tested at Valencia.

Official Yamaha test riders Augusto Fernandez and Cal Crutchlow have been in action for Yamaha at Valencia, but it’s not entirely clear if the new engine was tested or whether the focus was on improving this year’s bike.

According to Yamaha technical director Max Bartolini, the V4 engine is undergoing development, although it will take time to understand whether it will be good enough to use next year or not.

If Yamaha opts for its new V4 engine, then the entire grid will be complete with V4 power units, as Ducati, which is currently setting the benchmark when it comes to engine performance, KTM, Aprilia and Honda all use V4 engines.

"Next year’s bike is going to have the V4 engine if the V4 engine is faster than the actual [Inline-four] bike,” said Bartolini when speaking to MotoGP.com. “Testing it with the official riders depends on how the development goes. If the bike is ready, as soon as possible.

“Developing an engine and bike requires time. Still, we are in the early, early development. At the moment, we still don't have the possibility to compare the performance correctly. But as soon as possible, we will make a comparison and we will keep going on the fastest of the two bikes."

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