YAMAHA BOSS ADMITS V4 PROJECT HAS FALLEN SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS

Yamaha’s switch to a V4 engine has yet to deliver the progress the team hoped for, and managing director Paolo Pavesio has acknowledged that the project is falling short of its performance expectations.

Fabio Quartararo had already voiced his frustration, saying he expected the V4 to be “much better” by this stage. The Frenchman said the bike had made little progress since his first test in Barcelona in autumn 2025, and that the “big step” he had been waiting for had not arrived. Quartararo will leave Yamaha for Honda after the season.

Speaking on the Paddock Pass podcast, Pavesio said Yamaha had assessed the advantages and drawbacks of changing engine concepts and understood that results could fall at different points within its expected range. “We are not at the higher part of the bracket,” he said, adding that this was “very clear.” He nevertheless said the team did not regret the decision, describing it as a foundation for next year.

Yamaha began developing the V4 alongside its inline-four project. The engine first ran in December 2024, Pavesio said, and the team committed to the new design in August 2025 after weighing up both options. The change was made with the 2027 regulations in mind.

The results underline the scale of the challenge. Yamaha’s factory team finished sixth in the 2025 standings, after collecting five pole positions and three podiums across Grands Prix and Sprints. This season it has fallen to 10th, ahead only of satellite outfit Pramac. Quartararo was a top-10 finisher last year, but Yamaha’s four riders now occupy positions from 15th to 21st in the standings.

With few meaningful targets left for the remainder of 2026, attention is turning towards next year’s bike. The difficult campaign has made for a disappointing final season at Yamaha for Quartararo, Alex Rins and Jack Miller, while Toprak Razgatlioglu faces a demanding introduction to the team. Despite signs that the engine is improving, Yamaha’s top-speed data has not yet offered clear evidence of a breakthrough.