Yamaha is committed to racing the V4 engine in the final season of the 1,000cc era in 2026, although it had to develop an 850cc unit for the 2027 MotoGP regulations.
The Japanese outfit was the last manufacturer to swap their inline-four engine for a V4 in the 1,000cc era. Yamaha It had previously stuck with an inline-four engine because of its big cornering strengths, but riders were routinely blown away by their V4-engined rivals in the straights.
in addition, Yamaha immediately accepted that they had to build a V4 engine when they read the 2027 regulationsAs an inline four does not conform to the 850cc regulations. MotoGP has been designed to reduce overall engine size and cylinder bore size to make bikes slower, safer and more road relevant.
MotoGP will revise its regulations in 2027, reducing air suspension devices and removing ride height devices alongside the new motorcycle rules. The five manufacturers are developing their 850cc bikes in parallel with their 1,000cc machines.
Will Yamaha return to winning ways in 2026 with a V4 engine?
Join the debate; Share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to make a comment
Matt Oxley thinks the Yamaha 2026 should have been sacrificed and run with an 850cc V4 engine
KTM have already tested their 850cc bike on the circuit.Pol Espargaro riding his first pack version for the 2027 regulations during a private test at Jerez in December. But Matt Oxley Yamaha suggests they missed a trick that could have put them “several steps ahead.”
Read more: Everything you need to know about Yamaha from MotoGP team riders to the hierarchy
Oxley believes Yamaha should have sacrificed the 2026 MotoGP season and used the 850cc engine this year, as there are no rules preventing teams from using a smaller engine this term. He feels that doing so negates the added challenge of developing a 1,000cc V4.
“While MotoGP’s other four manufacturers face the challenge of preparing their current 1,000cc machines and new 850s for 2027, Yamaha will face the challenge of preparing and comparing their new 1,000 and 850s,” said Oxley. Motor sports magazine.
“When the new era of MotoGP begins in 2027, it begs the question why would Yamaha not race their 850 to steal a rally from their rivals?
“There’s nothing stopping them from doing that. Because while the manufacturers have a gentleman’s agreement to run the 850s with test riders until mid-2026, there’s no agreement not to race the 850s this year.”
Yamaha’s 1,000cc V4 engine has a direct impact on their bikes for the 850cc regulations.
Prove me wrong: Fermin Aldeguer has the best MotoGP team leader in 2026.
Join the debate; Share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to make a comment
Oxley believes there is no rule preventing Yamaha from using an 850cc engine instead of a 1,000cc V4 in the 2026 season, but managing director Paolo Pavesio He had already given up on the idea. Pavesio said Yamaha simply “can’t accept” competition with a smaller unit.
Pavesio also says that whatever Yamaha learns from developing their 1,000cc engine in 2026 will directly influence how they design the 850cc V4 for 2027.
He told Motorsport magazine: “When you’re Yamaha, you can’t accept to do a season with less than 150cc and no ride height. The point is, a lot of what we do in 2026 with the 1,000cc V4 will be helpful for 2027. It’s the basis of the 850. Absolutely.”
“From the zero list we have right now to the number one list we compete in Thailand, we will continue to develop throughout the season.”
