Yamaha has confirmed that it will use a new V4 engine in its MotoGP bikes from 2026. This marks a major change for the team, which has raced with an inline-four cylinder engine for many years. The move brings Yamaha in line with most other MotoGP manufacturers, who already use V4 engines for better acceleration and stronger performance under braking.

The company has been working on the V4 version of its M1 for several months, testing it privately before showing it to the public at Misano in September. Test rider Augusto Fernández rode the bike there as a wildcard entry and later continued testing it in Malaysia. He is also racing with an updated version of the bike at the Valencia Grand Prix.

Rider feedback has been mixed so far. Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha’s lead rider, has said he is not convinced about the bike’s speed or overall potential. Despite this, Yamaha has decided to commit fully to the V4 engine for future seasons.

Valencia was the last race in which Yamaha used their traditional in-line engine. From 2026, all Yamaha MotoGP bikes will run the new V4 engine. Yamaha says the change leads to better acceleration, improved stability when braking and a design that works more effectively with modern tyres and aerodynamics.

All four riders who will represent Yamaha in 2026 will test the V4 bike at Valencia. The line-up includes Quartararo, Alex Rins and Pramac riders Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Jack Miller. Razgatlıoğlu is one of the most notable additions to the Yamaha team.

To fit the new V4 engine, Yamaha had to redesign the M1 from the ground up. The current bike last won a championship in 2021 with Quartararo. Although the new engine is a big step forward, it will only race for one season. MotoGP will introduce new rules in 2027 that require all teams to switch