Marco Bezzecchi
Yamaha took the cover off their new YZR-M1 in Jakarta on Wednesday, as riders Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins prepare to race their V4 engine in the 2026 MotoGP season.
Most constructors have already made designing their bike for the 2027 MotoGP regulations the priority, with the series moving from 1,000cc to 850cc engines. MotoGP will also ban all ride height devices in 2027, when Pirelli will even replace Michelin as the sole tyre provider.
But Yamaha enter 2026 with a dual-pronged project to develop their 850cc bike alongside a 1,000cc V4 package for use this year. The Japanese manufacturer have finally moved in line with rivals Aprilia, Ducati, Honda and KTM after replacing their inline four engine with a V4.
Quartararo sees clear areas where Yamaha must improve their V4 engine, ahead of the first 2026 pre-season test. The Iwata marque will take part during the shakedown test at Sepang on January 29-31, as Yamaha are the only 2026 MotoGP constructor in concessions rank D.
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Yamaha’s 2026 front wing, fairings and exhaust concept are ‘virtually identical’ to Ducati’s
Quartararo wants Yamaha to improve the turning abilities of their V4-engined M1, as well as the engine’s outright power. Yamaha had stuck with an inline four engine for years due to its superior turning ability, but Quartararo claimed the brand’s last Grand Prix win back in 2022.
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Ducati have dominated MotoGP amid Yamaha’s win drought, with the Bologna Bullets’ bikes scoring 60 wins – including scoring all but one win in 2024 – since Quartararo’s most recent win. And Yamaha have seemingly taken a lot of inspiration from Ducati with their 2026 bike.
According to Motosprint, the lower and front fairings, as well as the exhaust concept, on the new-for-2026 Yamaha M1 are ‘virtually identical’ to Ducati’s GP26. Yamaha’s new front wing also follows the path that Ducati have favoured during their run of four-straight riders’ titles.
Yamaha’s move to a V4 engine opened the door to a new aero package
Yamaha had embraced a staggered three-tiered front wing concept in recent years, whereas Ducati favour a box-shaped design for their aero. Now, however, Yamaha have also adopted a box-shaped wing, as moving to a V4 engine lets them get more aggressive with their aero.
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The straight-line speed limitations of an inline four engine previously stopped Yamaha from using more extreme aerodynamic features on their bike, as they create additional drag that the Iwata outfit could not afford to carry. So, Yamaha are capitalising on having a V4 engine.
Additionally, an inline four engine requires a wider bike, so Yamaha had to design their aero longitudinally along the wheelbase of the bike. But a V4 package is narrower, so Yamaha can now design their aero laterally and potentially generate more downforce at high lean angles.
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