It has been confirmed that Yamaha is developing a V4 engine for their Yamaha M1, but they are yet to test it on track.

Lin Jarvis, the Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, has revealed that the Japanese manufacturer is producing a V4 engine. Yamaha is the only manufacturer on the MotoGP grid running an Inline-Four engine, which they will eventually change.

Before the Gran Premio Pramac dell’Emilia-Romagna Jarvis confirmed to MotoGP.com that a V4 engine is in production:

“Regarding the rumours about a V4, which we have read about recently in the media, it is true I can confirm we are busy developing a V4 powerplant.”

‘We have not run it in a bike yet’ – Lin Jarvis

Jarvis was then asked if this is something that Yamaha has been planning for a few years or if it is a knee-jerk reaction to how their 2024 season has been going.

“It is something that goes back a while,” Jarvis said. “When Suzuki was still here two manufacturers were using the Inline-Four and the other competitors using the V. In the last two years, we have seen many technical developments in this sport and of course, Suzuki stepped out so we have been the only manufacturer with the Inline-Four.

“The Inline-Four in our opinion still has plenty of capacity to be improved, but when all of your competitors are using V4s, and when you look towards the 2027 new regulations, it is important to us to fully understand the potential of a V4.

“Based on that some time ago we took the decision to start the project. The project is on schedule I would say, it is probably the best way to describe it, I can’t describe exactly where we are at. We are on schedule with our planning, the engine is already designed and being bench-tested, but we have not run it in a bike yet it is not the right time for that. We are busy developing, busy designing, and when it is ready with its durability testing we will start to track test it.”

‘Maybe in the middle of next year, you might see it on track.’

When Jarvis was asked about when Yamaha will use the V4 engine in MotoGP he joked by stating: “When it is quicker than the inline-four we will bring it in!

“Obviously, one of our expectations is to anticipate and to look at and check what type of engine we need for 2027. At the moment 2027 is too far away for us so we need to start now and we need to get experience. I don’t know when you will see it racing, but track testing is not so far away. Based on the developments, hopefully, positive developments, maybe in the middle of next year you might see it on track.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us but with two strong teams, four strong riders plus a lot of very good engineers working for us I think that we will return.”

Yamaha also completed their 2025 MotoGP rider lineup before the Gran Premio Pramac dell’Emilia-Romagna. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team will stay the same with Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins. However, Yamaha has gained two extra bikes with the Prima Pramac Yamaha Factory Team. The new ‘second factory team’ will feature Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller.