P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Yamaha is the only remaining bike on the MotoGP grid with a different type of engine to its rivals. That could change even sooner than expected
Yamaha might switch to a V4 engine in MotoGP sooner than expected, aiming to close the gap to its V4 rivals, a change that shouldn’t be underestimated. The shift from an inline-four engine to a V4 is significant, with Yamaha being the only team on the grid still using an inline-four. The move to a V4 engine has been influenced by the experience and expertise of Yamaha’s new engine guru Luca Marmorini and the overall trend in MotoGP towards V4 powertrains. Although Yamaha plans to introduce the new bike when it’s competitive, factory racer Alex Rins hopes to see it in action by the middle of next season. The transition to a V4 engine will require a whole new bike design, including a new frame and aerodynamics package to accommodate the V4 configuration. Rins and Quartararo mostly have experience with inline-four engines, but stand-in test rider Remy Gardner, who has experience with KTM’s V4 engine, believes the switch will provide much-needed assistance.
