New V4 YZR M1 MotoGP race bike unveiled by Yamaha
Valentino Rossi had long criticized Yamaha for failing to improve the M1 in key areas, warning that the factory was repeating past mistakes. In recent years, fans have echoed his concerns, often viewing Yamaha as lagging behind competitors.
That could soon change as Yamaha has just unveiled its new V4-powered YZR-M1, a shift from its inline-four tradition, with its eyes set on bringing back its glory days in MotoGP.
The prototype was unveiled at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli during Round 16 of the 2025 MotoGP season, drawing attention from fans and rivals alike.
For the first time, Yamaha will line up with the new V4 machine as a wild-card entry at Misano this weekend, with test rider Augusto Fernández tasked to give it a real-world shakedown. The prototype will then see further testing in the official post-race MotoGP Test, where factory riders Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins are expected to provide crucial feedback.
Yamaha’s years of struggling to match the acceleration, braking stability, and outright speed of rival V4 machines from Ducati, KTM, Aprilia, and Honda, the Japanese marque has admitted that its traditional inline-four layout has reached its limits under the current MotoGP regulations.
“This is a concrete sign of our commitment to the future,” said Yamaha Racing Managing Director Paolo Pavesio. Technical Director Massimo Bartolini added that the development plan involves careful steps, moving from dyno tests to race-weekend conditions to validate performance.
Although still in the early stages, the V4 prototype represents Yamaha’s commitment to regaining competitiveness. Whether it will fully replace the current M1 as soon as 2026 remains uncertain, but its Misano debut marks a turning point for Yamaha.
