Big news is brewing in the MotoGP world: Fabio Quartararo has finally locked in his much-anticipated first outing on Yamaha’s all-new V4 prototype. Mark your calendars—he’ll swing a leg over the fresh machine at the official Misano test on September 15!
Quartararo’s First Spin on Yamaha’s V4
For months, there was buzz over when—and even if—Fabio would get his shot at testing Yamaha’s first-ever MotoGP V4 bike. Now it’s settled: he’s confirmed it’ll happen at Misano, right after the Grand Prix weekend. “In Misano I will test the V4… on [the] Monday. It will be nice to see the potential of the new bike,” Quartararo revealed during the Austrian GP.
This new V4 isn’t just an evolution, but a revolution for Yamaha and a lot is hanging on its success. The prototype, developed by seasoned hands Augusto Fernandez and Andrea Dovizioso, is expected to eventually replace the time-honored inline M1—if it’s good enough to compete with the current field.
“Let’s See It for Ourselves”
Fabio, wise as ever, isn’t jumping to conclusions about the bike’s performance. “Augusto and Dovi are really experienced riders, and of course, I have confidence with them. But until I try the bike, I don’t want to [assume] anything,” he adds. It’s a cautious optimism, but you can sense he’s itching to finally see if this new engine can put Yamaha back in the mix.
Interestingly, Fernandez let slip that the team isn’t pushing the V4 to the max just yet. “The engine is not at its full potential; they don’t give us all the power yet.” Quartararo echoed this sentiment after having seen the testing results from the experienced test riders, admitting the engine still feels “slow,” but he’s hopeful. “This is a point where it’s going to be crucial for the future, to have not only a bike that is fast on the straights, but also fast on the corners.” he said.
A New Way of Stopping—and Going
Yamaha isn’t just hunting for horsepower. They’re also aiming for better braking—especially by getting more out of the rear tire when slowing down. Both performance upgrades are seen as must-haves to close the gap to rivals, all of whom are already running V4 engines.
Why February Is the Real Game-Changer
September’s test is huge, but Quartararo is looking ahead to a bigger picture. “We will have Misano, and the Valencia test. But then the most important for me will be the pre-season test,” he explained. The window between November and February gives Yamaha the chance to make proper changes after feedback. Or as Fabio puts it, “For me, February will be the most important test in a long time.”
Inline-Four Farewell
The signs are obvious—Yamaha is ready to say goodbye to the legendary inline-four. After their roughest weekend of the year at the Red Bull Ring (Quartararo managed only 15th, with all M1s behind him), he was brutally honest: “We cannot race again with the inline four, we are way too far, and we are not developing a lot with that bike.” History shows Yamaha’s M1 has won the title nine times since 2002, but the V4 era is here, and the team doesn’t want to risk falling further behind.
Suzuki was the last non-V4 winner back in Valencia 2022. Quartararo, despite a ride height mishap at Silverstone this season, had been on course to break through—showing that with the right tools, he’s always a threat.
V4 Wild-Card?
Augusto Fernandez, meanwhile, is hoping to give the V4 an early shakedown in a wild-card race before year’s end. All eyes will be fixed on Misano for now, as it sets the stage for what could be Yamaha’s next MotoGP chapter.
If you’re a Yamaha fan, or just love a good underdog tech story, keep tabs on this one. The test could mark the beginning of a brand-new era for both Quartararo and the Tuning Fork crew!
