YAMAHA’S V4 TOP-SPEED DATA SHOWS A CLEAR GAP TO DUCATI

Fabio Quartararo’s long-running criticism of Yamaha’s V4 project has been backed up by top-speed figures, according to Speedweek. Quartararo said Yamaha have not made a “big step” since introducing their V4 nearly a year ago at Misano, and he linked his concerns about the direction of the engine to his decision to move to Honda. The championship context is also unflattering: Yamaha’s factory team has slipped from sixth last year to 10th this season, only ahead of satellite Pramac.

The speed-trap data points to a consistent performance gap. Yamaha are described as “consistently” at the bottom of the rankings, averaging around 10kph less than the leading pace. The report states Yamaha are lacking 10kph compared to Ducati, with Ducati setting the benchmark at eight of the 12 rounds so far. Top speed has been a recurring weakness for the Iwata manufacturer, which is part of the reason they originally pivoted to the V4.

There are also signs that Honda could be narrowing the gap to the European front-runners. LCR’s Diogo Morira reportedly set the fastest top speed during the British GP, raising questions about whether Yamaha’s deficit is becoming harder to close.

Yamaha’s own messaging has suggested patience. Technical director Massimo Meregalli “split the season into parts,” describing the first half as a “learning process” and predicting a “gradual improvement” in the second half. The team also appears to be looking ahead: Yamaha are now prioritising their 2027 bike, with little incentive to keep investing heavily in the current 1000cc machine. The report notes rumours of Yamaha being behind in development ahead of regulation changes, even as Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura have shown confidence in the brand after giving up class-leading Aprilias.