Yamaha reveals how 2027 MotoGP rules changed V4 plans

If you’re a fan of MotoGP, then you will likely know by now that Yamaha has undergone a major philosophy change for 2026, replacing its hugely successful crossplane inline-four engine with a new V4 unit. But the reasons why that’s happened might surprise you.

When Suzuki departed MotoGP at the end of 2022, a decision that shocked the sport, Yamaha became the last remaining manufacturer to use an inline-four power unit. 

Since that season, Yamaha has gone winless in MotoGP despite having one of the best riders on the grid in Fabio Quartararo. 

Currently, the technical regulations in MotoGP allow for a maximum of four cylinders from the engine, but there are no restrictions on the configuration. 

With the V4 generating more performance in recent years, that alone could have served as an argument for why Yamaha should switch engine configurations. 

However, Yamaha Racing boss Paolo Pavesio made an interesting claim when speaking to GPOne.com, which is that the company’s new V4 engine was not initially plan A. Pavesio said:  

“To be honest, it was plan B, at first. The goal was to continue with the straight-four (also known as inline-four), but we needed a plan B, and it [changing to a V4] was something exceptional for Japanese culture. Plan B then became plan A, and this season will be very important”. 

Pavesio would go on to say that 2027’s new technical regulations played a key role in the change: 

“With the new technical regulations, with the aerodynamic limitations, with an Inline-four engine, you have no room for wings. It's not written anywhere that you have to use a V4, but with those rules, it has become mandatory.”

Photo credit - Gold and Goose

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