Marco Bezzecchi
Yamaha officially unveiled their new V4-powered MotoGP bike yesterday, and Fabio Quartararo has shared the ‘biggest challenge’ that it poses to him for the new season.
As the lead rider for the factory Yamaha team, Fabio Quartararo was the main factor behind the Japanese constructor’s decision to introduce a V4-powered prototype earlier than first anticipated.
Yamaha’s new bike bears similarities to Ducati’s, and the Frenchman will be praying for a similar calibre of performance so that he can regain his form from the 2021 premier class campaign, where he became a MotoGP world champion.
However, a new spec of bike brings its own set of issues, and Quartararo has already identified where he will need to adapt in order to eke out the maximum amount of potential from it.
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Fabio Quartararo notes that he will need to change his riding style for the V4-powered Yamaha
Much has been said about Toprak Razgatlioglu needing to change his riding style ahead of his rookie season in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, but every other Yamaha rider will need to do so as well, according to their flagship rider.
During an interview with select media, including Motosan, at Yamaha’s 2026 MotoGP season launch event, El Diablo touched upon his thoughts for the year ahead.
He said, “I don’t really think I need a learning curve. Of course, you can tell the bike is a Yamaha, but it’s a completely new bike.
“However, from day one, in Barcelona last year, I adapted quite quickly to the torque, which is the biggest difference.”
“So I don’t think I’ll have to learn anything new. Of course, my riding style will change a bit. It’s not just the engine, but the whole bike.
“And that’s the biggest challenge. But first, we need to find our baseline and know exactly where the limit is. From there, we can focus on performance.”
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Fabio Quartararo also detailed his ‘limited’ experience on Yamaha’s new bike ahead of the new MotoGP season
The 2021 world champion was also asked for his thoughts on the differences between Yamaha’s 2025-spec prototype and the new one that he will be riding this year.
He said, “Well, for now, I think my experience with the V4 is very limited. Mainly because when we’re testing, we never really focus on going fast.
“We’re always changing the setup, trying new things. So I can’t say exactly what the difference was between the V4 and the inline four.”
“Now we have five days in Malaysia, where at some point we’ll have to focus on overall performance. But right now, I think it’s too early to say what the difference is between the two engines.”
Quartararo’s limited experience on V4-powered bikes was a crucial reason behind Yamaha’s retention of Jack Miller.
It has already been suggested that Miller’s full focus during 2026 will be on the development side of things, so it remains to be seen how his future in MotoGP will pan out following the conclusion of the season.
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