Fabio Quartararo Happy With New Agility-Bringing Yamaha Engine
Following a private MotoGP test at Valencia, Fabio Quartararo is happy with Yamaha's new engine that brings back some of…
Yamaha’s longstanding commitment to its inline-4 engine seems to be coming to an end come mid-2025. Earlier this fall, the manufacturer confirmed the development of a completely new V4 engine for its struggling MotoGP programme.
With an entirely new engine concept comes a completely different bike, as MotoGP technical director Max Bartolini explains.
“Once the decision to develop a V4 had been made, construction began,” Bartolini shared. “This phase is still ongoing. There is currently nothing tangible and therefore nothing that we can ride on a test bench – let alone the motorbike.”
Yamaha’s choice to adopt the V4 concept could well be departure from its historic preference for the inline-4, a design that set Yamaha apart for decades, particularly since Suzuki’s exit from MotoGP.
“The decision to implement a V4 drive means designing a completely new MotoGP motorbike. I repeat – completely. It is not possible to look at the drivetrain in isolation. In practice, it is impossible to put a newly developed engine into the current bike and then test it.”
While other manufacturers, like Ducati and Honda, have long relied on the V4 configuration to boost top-end power, Bartolini is clear that Yamaha’s decision wasn’t driven by power concerns.
After all, the inline-4 engine, designed in collaboration with the engineering office of Luca Marmorini, still has untapped potential. But strategic factors ultimately forced Yamaha’s hand.
“We didn’t make this decision for reasons of engine performance. Quite the opposite. From our work with Luca Marmorini, we know very well the advantages of the inline engine. But in the end, we had to realize that we were the only manufacturer with an inline engine – this affects not just the chassis but also the tyres. Everything is connected.”
With the development of the V4 engine still in its infancy, Yamaha is taking a cautious approach. Bartolini stressed the need for careful preparation, explaining that “the use of a new V4 must be perfectly prepared. A back and forth is out of the question.”
The manufacturer is eyeing mid-2025 for its first track tests of the V4 concept, with a potential competitive debut to follow once the advantages are confirmed.
Adding to the excitement around Yamaha’s technical evolution is its expanded partnership with Pramac Racing. The two teams will collaborate more closely in future development projects, starting with an upcoming test in Valencia that will see four riders on Yamaha M1 bikes.
Bartolini is enthusiastic about this new phase for Yamaha, saying, “I’m already incredibly excited about the test in Valencia with four riders on four Yamaha M1s.”
