Yamaha V4 MotoGP Engine Debut Delayed Until Early 2025
Yamaha’s new V4 MotoGP engine looks like it could make its debut at the Sepang Shakedown test next February
Yamaha remains the only manufacturer on the current MotoGP grid that’s running an inline four-cylinder engine set-up, but the Japanese brand’s new V4 concept has accelerated recently, although it still wasn’t enough to make a debut appearance last week.
A KTM-organised test took place at Jerez last week and is what thought that Yamaha’s new V4 could be debuted at the same time, however, Alex Rins, despite confirming that was the plan, admitted on Motorsport Network’s ‘Por Orjas’ podcast that it wasn’t ready in time.
That means the Shakedown test in February next year, prior to the three day test that follows at the same venue, will likely be the scene of its debut. The Shakedown test is a three-day opportunity for teams to test their latest bikes through rookie riders or test teams, before the full-grid joins the action at the official three-day test.
Yamaha is not planning to do any more testing in 2024, which means the suspicions that a debut at Sepang could take place have gathered even further momentum. According to Autosport, Andrea Dovizioso was set to give the bike’s new V4 engine its first outing but with the test scrapped, that honour is likely to go the way of new test rider Augusto Fernandez.
Although Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha were the last non-Ducati combination to win a MotoGP title (2021), Yamaha’s decline in terms of competitiveness has fallen off a cliff since the middle part of 2022.
One of the reasons for that, Yamaha believes, is the engine configuration, with Ducati, Aprilia and KTM - all of whom have been performing better than Yamaha - running the V4 configuration. But Yamaha has also re-jigged its team with a large number of engineers and technicians, some of which have come over from Ducati, while also hiring F1 engine consultant Luca Marmorini, previously of Aprilia, as the person advising the engine concept change.
Initially it was thought that the middle part of the 2025 season is when the first sight of Yamaha’s new V4 hitting the track was expected, but thanks to the quickened development phase, that timeframe has been cut.
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
