Yamaha has unveiled an all-new V4-powered MotoGP for the 2026 season, because it makes a closing push to return to competitiveness underneath the present rules cycle.
Manufacturing facility riders Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins travelled to Jakarta on Wednesday to launch the brand new M1, which retains Yamaha’s signature blue and black livery.
Having been the one producer to run an inline four-cylinder engine in MotoGP, the swap brings Yamaha into technical alignment with Honda, Ducati, Aprilia and KTM and ensures higher parity throughout the grid.
The Iwata-based model has spent greater than a yr growing its new V4 motor, whose dimensions required an entire redesign of the bike.Â
Check rider Augusto Fernandez accomplished a number of wildcard outings with the V4-spec M1 in direction of the top of the 2025 season, whereas Quartararo and Rins additionally bought the chance to pattern the brand new bike throughout testing.
Whereas preliminary response from riders was blended, Yamaha confirmed on the eve of November’s Valencia season finale that it’s going to swap to the V4 bike in 2026, only one yr earlier than the introduction of recent 850cc engine guidelines in MotoGP.
Yamaha shall be hoping that the transfer to V4 energy will assist revive its flagging fortunes in MotoGP. Regardless of making an inexpensive step ahead final yr, it slipped to the underside of the producers’ championship, as homegrown rival Honda made an excellent larger leap with the RC213V.Â
Yamaha additionally must hit the bottom working with its new bike to reassure star rider Quartararo that it may be aggressive once more in MotoGP.
With the rider market shifting rapidly, Quartararo has already warned that he could also be compelled to look elsewhere if he loses religion within the undertaking.
Yamaha is closely depending on the Frenchman, who scored 201 out of the group’s tally of 269 factors final yr and completed ninth within the riders’ standings. Quartararo’s contribution to Yamaha is highlighted by the truth that he scored extra factors than all different M1 riders mixed, together with Pramac duo Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira.
On the opposite aspect of the manufacturing facility storage, Rins’ two-year contract with Yamaha additionally expires after 2026, and the Spaniard wants an enormous season after failing to complete a race increased than seventh final yr.
With Honda shifting to Group C, Yamaha would be the solely producer to get essentially the most beneficiant testing and growth concessions underneath the rules in 2026.
Whereas turning round its MotoGP programme in 2026 is significant, Yamaha has additionally begun testing its 850cc for the subsequent rule cycle. It’s understood that the Italian producer discretely ran its 2027 challenger at its non-public facility in Iwata in mid-December.
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