Marco Bezzecchi
Neil Hodgson expects that Yamaha will still be ‘a season behind’ the rest with their V4 engine when the 2027 MotoGP campaign comes around.
Ahead of the 2026 season, Yamaha decided to ditch the inline-four engines for V4 engines to move back up the grid and challenge towards the front.
In addition, the team’s decision to make a change in 2026 is also an attempt to understand the V4 engines ahead of next season.
However, it has been a torrid start for the Japanese manufacturer as they have only managed to score 14 points from the opening four races. In comparison, they had 42 at the same stage in 2025.
As a result of their ongoing struggles, star rider Fabio Quartararo has signed for Honda for 2027, with Yamaha snapping up Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura.
Who is the most overrated rider on the 2026 MotoGP grid?
Neil Hodgson fears Yamaha will ‘still’ be a ‘season behind’ under 2027 rules
On Friday, during FP1 ahead of the French Grand Prix, TNT Sports commentator Hodgson claimed that Yamaha could still be a season behind the rest under 2027 rules.
From next year, the engines used in MotoGP will drop from 1000cc to 850cc, which will reduce top speed but improve efficiency.
Hodgson stated that although next season will be a level playing field, Yamaha could struggle.
When asked if it is impossible to know which manufacturer will be the best in 2027, Hodgson said: “It is, the only one, and I’m not Yamaha bashing here.
“But, where are they with the development of their V4 engine? I know it’s a different capacity for next year, dropping down to 850.
“But you’d say that’s the only one where I’d probably say Yamaha is still going to be a season behind. Everyone else, you’d say, it’s a level playing field.”
Should Honda be worried about Fabio Quartararo’s mentality in MotoGP?
READ MORE: Fabio Quartararo says he’s riding ‘for himself’ as Yamaha win drought nears four years
Massimo Meregalli says Yamaha are on a path they ‘didn’t expect’
Amid their ongoing struggles, Yamaha boss Massimo Meregalli admitted that he thought they would have an ‘easier’ season than what they are currently going through.
As reported by Crash, Meregalli said: “For sure, we were aware it was not going to be easy. I have to say that I thought it would be slightly easier.
“Unfortunately, we are facing a path that maybe we didn’t expect, which is slowing down a bit the process of the development.
“But, the team itself is pushing as always, as much as we can. And the atmosphere, I would say, is good. When there is something new, already this brings positivity and it’s an additional boost.
“We are all aware, since we started this season, we thought – and we talked internally – that the first part was going to be demanding and tough.
“But we still believe in the second part we might start seeing different results. So, let’s say we are just at the beginning, and so far we are where we thought we could be.”
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
