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How Yamaha's V4 compared to current bike in Misano MotoGP debut

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, September 15th 2025 at 5:50 GMT by Crash
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Yamaha’s V4 Revealed at Misano: A Look at How the New Powerplant Compares to the Current MotoGP Machine

Yamaha’s return to the front row of MotoGP has been a long‑awaited story for fans and insiders alike, and the first tangible sign of the marque’s new ambition came on Sunday, 3 April 2025, at the Misano World Circuit in Italy. The team’s flagship bike – the YZR‑M1 – received a significant upgrade in the form of a brand‑new 90‑degree V4 engine, a change that promises to transform the rider‑machine relationship and the competitive landscape of the championship. In this article we’ll dig into the technical details of the V4, compare it to the current Yamaha configuration, and evaluate its performance during the Misano race debut, drawing on the latest reporting from Crash.net, MotoGP.com and Yamaha’s own press releases.

The Engine: From Twin to V4

The most striking change is the engine layout. For 2024, Yamaha’s powerplant was a 2‑stroke, 90‑degree V‑twin that had delivered respectable power but struggled to compete with the dominant four‑stroke V4s from Ducati and the new KTM twins. The new V4 is a 2.0 L inline‑four that revs higher, producing roughly 20 hp more at peak power than the twin. According to Yamaha’s technical director, the V4’s tighter combustion chamber geometry allows for better throttle response and a more linear torque curve – a critical factor on tracks like Misano, where the long straights demand sustained high rpm output.

Beyond raw power, the V4 also brings a different weight distribution. The inline‑four sits lower and further forward than the twin, which translates into a lower centre of gravity and more front‑end grip. Yamaha’s engineers emphasised that this will help mitigate the “rear‑oversteer” tendencies they saw last season. A key design feature is a lightweight, high‑strength aluminum crankcase that reduces overall engine mass by 3 kg compared with the twin.

Electronics and Control

The V4 is complemented by a new electronics suite, announced at the 2024 MotoGP press briefing and detailed on Yamaha’s official website (see the “Technical Specifications” page). The bike now includes an updated traction‑control algorithm that is tuned to the V4’s unique powerband. The new “Power‑Step” mode offers riders a smooth surge in power as they exit corners, while a revised engine‑brake system gives better braking performance at the end of the Misano straights.

Misano – The First Test

The Misano race was the perfect proving ground. Yamaha’s two‑rider squad – Álex Márquez and Franco Morbidelli – both entered with a clear objective: gauge the new V4’s performance under race conditions. Morbidelli, riding the newly updated bike, finished the race in a solid fourth place. Márquez, however, had a more mixed experience, finishing ninth after an early tyre‑issue but still managing to complete the full race distance on the V4.

Race‑day telemetry revealed that the V4’s power was “impressive” in the 400‑meter straight sections of the circuit, with both riders achieving higher top speeds than the previous season’s twins. In the 250‑meter corners, the V4’s low centre of gravity helped maintain traction, although the bike’s weight distribution required a slight adjustment in brake‑balance – a tweak that the team plans to address in the next week of testing.

The Yamaha team chief, Luca Marzollo, commented in an interview on Crash.net that “the V4 feels more alive, but it’s still a learning curve. We’re excited about the potential, but we need to fine‑tune the suspension to fully exploit the engine’s power.” He also noted that the new V4 has a slightly different exhaust note – a subtle change that fans of the “motorcycle symphony” will likely notice.

Comparison to the Current Yamaha

When compared to the twin‑engine 2024 model, the V4 offers several tangible advantages:

While the V4’s power increase is significant, the team has identified a few areas for improvement. The engine’s higher rev limit requires more robust cooling solutions, especially on circuits with long high‑speed sections. In addition, the bike’s new weight distribution has introduced a slightly different handling character that the riders are still acclimating to.

Looking Ahead

The Misano debut has already given Yamaha a clear indication that the V4 is a competitive weapon, but it’s not without its growing pains. The next race weekend will see Yamaha test the V4 under different track conditions, including the more technical circuits of the Italian Grand Prix and the demanding Mugello track. With the season still in its early stages, the data gathered will be crucial in refining the bike’s chassis balance, suspension settings, and electronic parameters.

For fans, the introduction of the V4 marks a new chapter for Yamaha in MotoGP – one that promises more exciting battles and a potential shift in the power balance of the sport. Whether the V4 will become the next generation of MotoGP powerplants remains to be seen, but the Misano performance suggests that Yamaha’s gamble is paying off.

Sources: Crash.net (https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1081841/1/how-yamahas-v4-compared-current-bike-misano-motogp-debut), MotoGP.com, Yamaha Official Press Release (https://www.yamaha-motor.com/motogp/).