Yamaha has announced that it will debut its highly anticipated V4 engine at the San Marino Grand Prix this September. Test rider Augusto Fernandez will be the first to race the new prototype machine at Round 16 of the MotoGP season, marking a major milestone in Yamaha’s racing history.

The V4 engine was first revealed last September and has been under testing ever since. Initial trials took place at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, followed by further runs at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya earlier this year. These tests have been crucial in refining the engine and gathering important data ahead of its race debut.

Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director, Paolo Pavesio, shared the news on social media, saying:

"For Misano, we are targeting seeing Augusto Fernandez race our new M1 prototype with the V4 engine for the very first time. This is an excellent preview and a clear sign of our commitment to the future, while we continue to push to get the best out of every race weekend."

The San Marino GP, taking place from 12–14 September, will provide Yamaha with valuable information to guide further development of the V4 engine. While Fernandez will handle the first race outing, it is expected that lead rider Fabio Quartararo and satellite rider Jack Miller will have the chance to test the new bike during post-race sessions. Miller, who has previous experience with V4 bikes at KTM and Ducati, will be particularly important in helping the team fine-tune the engine.

Quartararo has been riding Yamaha in-line four bikes throughout his MotoGP career. He has been keen for the V4 engine to make its race debut sooner rather than later, especially as the current bike continues to face performance challenges. He recently said that if the new machine can match the current bike’s pace within half a second, he would be ready to race it.

Miller’s continued presence in the Pramac squad until 2026, confirmed at the Hungarian Grand Prix, adds further stability to Yamaha’s development plans. The combination of his V4 experience and Fernandez’s testing role means Yamaha is well prepared to make the most of the San Marino GP as a first glimpse of the future of its MotoGP programme.

The upcoming race at Misano promises excitement not only for fans eager to see Yamaha’s new machine in action but also for the wider paddock, which will be watching closely as the Japanese manufacturer takes a bold step into the next chapter of its racing journey.