P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Five-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo slams Yamaha riders, particularly Fabio Quartararo, over criticism of the new V4 bike.
Five-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo criticized Yamaha riders, including Fabio Quartararo, for their negative comments about the new V4 bike. Yamaha’s V4 project is still in the early stages after the decision to switch from an inline-4 to a V4 for the 2026 season. The team struggled in the season opener in Thailand, with Jack Miller finishing far behind the winner, Marco Bezzecchi. Lorenzo believes the criticism towards the riders is unjustified and that the V4 project needs time before its full potential can be realized. Yamaha admitted that 2026 will be crucial for data gathering before the 2027 850cc regulation change. Despite the challenges, Quartararo feels uncertain about the V4’s progress and expects a new engine to arrive only in May at Le Mans.
