Quartararo Reveals Private Plan to Test Yamaha’s New V4 Engine in Catalunya

MotoGP fans have been eagerly waiting for signs that Yamaha is finally stepping up its game after several challenging seasons, and the news is now official. Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP world champion, will get his first chance to test the long-awaited Yamaha V4 engine in a private test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This exclusive session, scheduled for Monday, marks a crucial step in Yamaha’s attempt to return to the front of the grid and secure Quartararo’s future with the team.

The decision to accelerate the testing schedule is a bold move by Yamaha. Originally, the plan was to let Augusto Fernandez debut the new V4-powered M1 during the San Marino Grand Prix weekend on September 14. Only after that were the factory riders, Quartararo and Alex Rins, expected to try the engine. However, mounting pressure, both internally and externally, seems to have pushed Yamaha to bring forward the schedule, ensuring their lead rider gets a taste of the new technology sooner than expected.

Yamaha Finally Answers Quartararo’s Demands

Quartararo has not hidden his frustration with Yamaha’s development pace over the past two seasons. The French star, known for his smooth riding style and relentless racecraft, has often been left struggling on a bike that lags behind its European rivals in top speed and acceleration. His repeated calls for urgent updates eventually led to Yamaha embarking on a completely new engine architecture—a V4 layout, a departure from the traditional inline-four configuration that has defined Yamaha’s MotoGP machines for decades.

“Everybody is asking me. Everybody knows at the end. It’s not a secret anymore. Yeah, we will test the V4,” Quartararo confirmed after Friday practice in Barcelona. The tone of his statement reflects both relief and anticipation. For weeks, he has been urging Yamaha to accelerate development, worried that every lost month further risks falling behind Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia, all of whom have thrived with V4 configurations.

In a conversation just a day earlier, Quartararo highlighted the urgency of the situation. “Yamaha knows it’s several months behind in developing the V4 engine,” he said. It was a clear message: waiting until next year or the end of the season was no longer acceptable if Yamaha wanted to stay competitive and keep their star rider satisfied.

A Private Test with High Stakes

Monday’s private test is not just another development outing—it carries major implications for Yamaha’s short-term competitiveness and long-term rider lineup. Both Quartararo and Rins are expected to participate, although only Quartararo has confirmed his attendance publicly. The test will run at the same Barcelona circuit where Augusto Fernandez first shook down the prototype V4 machine a few months ago. Since then, Yamaha engineers have worked to fine-tune the bike, addressing both performance and reliability issues.

Interestingly, Yamaha will not be alone on track. Honda, also struggling to regain form in MotoGP, will share the circuit during the same session, creating an intriguing parallel: two Japanese giants, both once dominant, now fighting to catch up with the European wave of innovation.

For Yamaha, the objectives are clear and interconnected. First, the engineers need to gather data that proves their new concept can match or surpass the performance of their aging inline-four. Second, and perhaps more importantly, they must convince Quartararo that the future is worth committing to. His current contract runs through the end of next season, and other manufacturers have quietly expressed interest in acquiring his services should Yamaha fail to provide a competitive package.

Barcelona Practice Highlights Yamaha’s Struggles

While the upcoming V4 test is cause for optimism, the current race weekend has reminded everyone of Yamaha’s ongoing difficulties. Quartararo finished Friday’s opening day of practice in 11th position, missing an automatic Q2 slot by a mere 0.003 seconds. For a rider of his caliber, that narrow miss was a painful reminder of just how fine the margins are—and how much work Yamaha still has to do.

“Clearly, this morning was one of the worst sessions,” Quartararo admitted. “This afternoon was a bit better, but unfortunately, on the last two laps, I encountered two yellow flags in sector 1 and could not really make a second lap. It’s never easy, but I think that second lap would have been good to take me into Q2.”

These remarks underline the delicate balance Quartararo is navigating: pushing hard with the current bike while simultaneously preparing mentally for a radical shift in machinery philosophy. A V4 Yamaha will not only promise more power but will likely require subtle adaptations in riding style, braking approach, and corner entry techniques—all areas where Quartararo currently excels.

Why the V4 Engine Matters for Yamaha’s Future

For decades, Yamaha has built its MotoGP success on the inline-four concept, favoring smooth power delivery and agile handling over outright horsepower. While this philosophy paid dividends in the past—especially during the eras of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo—the modern MotoGP landscape has shifted dramatically. Ducati’s dominance with its explosive V4 engines, combined with KTM’s rapid development and Aprilia’s clever engineering, has left Yamaha looking increasingly outdated.

Switching to a V4 is no small undertaking. It involves redesigning the entire chassis, rebalancing weight distribution, reconfiguring aerodynamics, and ensuring that the traditional Yamaha cornering advantage is not sacrificed in pursuit of speed. The challenge is technical, but it is also psychological—convincing riders, engineers, and stakeholders that a major change is the only viable path forward.

Quartararo’s willingness to be part of this transition is critical. If he responds positively to the V4 test, it could strengthen Yamaha’s negotiating position and stabilize its factory lineup heading into 2026. If the test disappoints, however, Yamaha risks losing not only its lead rider but also its identity as a title contender.

A Turning Point for Yamaha in MotoGP

The upcoming test in Barcelona represents more than just a development milestone—it symbolizes Yamaha’s attempt to reclaim its place at the top of MotoGP. For Quartararo, it is both a professional opportunity and a personal gamble. A successful debut of the V4 engine could signal the beginning of a competitive revival, while failure might accelerate his exit from the team he once led to a world championship.

MotoGP is an unforgiving sport. Progress must be tangible, not theoretical. For now, all eyes will be on Barcelona on Monday, where Fabio Quartararo will swing a leg over Yamaha’s future and decide, perhaps sooner than anyone expected, whether it is a future worth staying for.