Yamaha to debut its V4-powered MotoGP prototype at 2025 San Marino GP
Yamaha has announced its V4 MotoGP prototype will make its public racing debut at the Misano MotoGP round later this year. The announcement was made by Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director Paolo Pavesio on Yamaha Motor Racing's social pages. See the announcement below.
It's no secret that Yamaha has been developing a V4 MotoGP bike, as it's the last of the manufacturers in the series not to use one, instead staying true to the inline-Four layout it's had since MotoGP switched to four-strokes in 2002. However, the inline's weaknesses have been clear for all to see – a lack of rear grip under acceleration and braking, plus a general lack of overall horsepower. Yamaha's promise to go all-in on improving, no matter if that means ditching tradition and building a V4 like its rivals, was a big reason Fabio Quartararo decided to stick with the brand and not sign elsewhere. Now it seems like Yamaha is keeping its word.
Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez, who has been doing much of the development work behind the scenes, is set to race the bike at Misano. Quartararo, and fellow factory rider Alex Rins, will then get to try the bike at the Monday test following the grand prix. While the V4 is still early in its development, Yamaha wouldn't have decided to make its public debut so early if it didn't show signs of promise and Yamaha didn't think it was ready. This theory carries some weight as Quartararo was quoted this past weekend at the Hungarian grand prix as stating Yamaha have all but stopped development on the current M1 and brought no new parts to try.
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Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
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Thanks! As an almost 4 decade fan of pretty much all motorcycle racing, I'll file your insights on racing under 'water is wet', and 'the sky is blue'.
The point of my comment was that even if they had unveiled a V4 engine 3 years ago, they would have still been late to the party...3 years ago. Nothing to do with, 'forgetting how to build a race bike'. Think about it.
the problem with racing is "must make more power, must go faster". FK that! Do more with LESS!! No friggin rider aids, no friggin ABS. No friggen gyroscopes or launch assist. You design a bike that a human, albeit gifted, can bloody well ride. Fk, "electronics for street riders". If you can't control the analog bike and not kill yourself, you don't deserve another day. If you buy a bike you can't handle, it is a GOOD THING that your genetic line dies with you in a california ravine.
More more more is NOT a useful goal for any part of the human endeavor.