Marco Bezzecchi
Yamaha are on the back foot heading into the 2026 MotoGP season after encountering numerous setbacks with the V4 engine in testing.
Yamaha admit that they are ’15 years behind’ with the V4 project compared to their rivals. The project was bound to take time to become a competitive package, but the magnitude of their issues has been alarming.
Should Yamaha go back to their inline four engine until the V4 is ready?
Fabio Quartararo was ruled out of the last two days of the Sepang test after crashing on day one and breaking a finger in his right hand. Before withdrawing from the test, he suffered engine trouble with the V4.
Yamaha could not find a solution to the problem and suspended all operations in Malaysia on day two. They would soon solve the issue, but it was reported that Yamaha had engine trouble during the shakedown at Sepang.
Pol Espargaro says Yamaha will be ‘very concerned’ about Fabio Quartararo’s injury amid V4 woes
On day three of the test, Yamaha returned to the track with Alex Rins, test rider Augusto Fernandez and Pramac’s Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu. By the end of the session, it was Rins who topped the times for Yamaha, but he was over a second behind Alex Marquez at the front.
The other three riders were towards the bottom of the timesheets, with Quartararo no longer in Malaysia, much to Yamaha’s annoyance, as he went for checks for his injuries.
The Iwata outfit have had a disastrous start to the 2026 season, as the V4 engine is clearly lacking in power and performance compared to its rivals. Quartararo’s injury does not help matters, especially with the Buriram test coming up, as Pol Espargaro notes.
The Spanish told DAZN that Yamaha will be ‘very concerned’ about the Frenchman’s injuries heading into the test and the season opener. Furthermore, Espargaro criticised the V4 project.
“What Yamaha will be very concerned about is Fabio’s burns on his arm and that broken finger, because we have Thailand coming up,” he said.
“But the V4 not only lacks top speed, 15 kilometres per hour less, but the engines are breaking down. The V4 project is not going very well.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Fabio Quartararo from net worth to career stats
Where is Fabio Quartararo heading for 2027?
The current status of Yamaha’s V4 will do little to convince Quartararo that he should stay with the team beyond 2026. In fact, rumours are suggesting that he has already decided to leave.
Johann Zarco has told Quartararo to join a ‘European brand’ in 2027, with Ducati and Aprilia having been linked with the 2021 champion. But a move to either Italian team seems unlikely.
Where does Fabio Quartararo rank among Yamaha’s greatest riders?
Aprilia rejected Quartararo’s salary demands as they exceeded their budget. Subsequently, the Frenchman has started negotiations with Honda, with it being reported that he has already signed with the team.
HRC chief Alberto Puig has called Quartararo a ‘fantastic’ rider amid the rumours. Honda and the Yamaha rider have kept tight-lipped on the matter, but it seems likely that a deal between the two parties will happen for 2027.
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