P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Yamaha was not truly in competition with its MotoGP rivals at Buriram. Perhaps it should have prepared itself – and us – better for that
After struggling with the obfuscation and plausible deniability surrounding their V4 project, Yamaha faced the harsh reality of its underperformance during the 2026 MotoGP season opener in Thailand. The lack of competitiveness was evident as the Yamaha team failed to challenge rival bikes throughout the weekend. Despite being the youngest bike on the grid, the new V4 M1 showed significant shortcomings compared to its predecessor. Yamaha’s managing director, Paolo Pavesio, acknowledged the challenges faced by the team and emphasized the commitment to improve and regain competitiveness. Pavesio’s transparent communication with the media about the project’s setbacks and the team’s determination to progress incrementally was commendable, highlighting their dedication to overcoming the current obstacles and returning to a competitive position in the future.
