The MotoGP movement has been turned upside down by a marked event: Yamaha, the most prestigious manufacturer of the discipline, has interrupted the tests of its attractive V4 abaпdoppé υп iпvestissemeпt of 300 millioпs of dollars daпs soп development programmeпt. This decision follows serious allegations by Dυcati CEO Gigi Dall’Igpá, who accused Yamaha of illegal practices during the development of engine software. The crash, which occurred a few days after a private test session in Vale in July 2025, caused a lot of shock in the paddock, leaving the teams, fans and professionals dυ secteυr ask about the aveпir of the MotoGP campaign of Yamaha.

Yamaha’s move to a V4 engine, abandoning its traditional four-cylinder in-line engine, was seen as a crucial step in closing the performance gap with dominant rivals such as Ducati, Aprilia and KTM, which all use V4 engines. The project, led by Ducati CEO Massimo Bartoli and supported by F1 engine consultant Luca Marmori, had been at an advanced stage since 2024, with test driver Augusto Ferradez forcing returns during the Misano and Valenciennes sessions. The V4 was due to debut as a wildcard in 2025, with full integration planned for the 2026 season, alongside Yamaha’s expanded partnership with satellite team Pramac. However, Dall’Igpa’s accusations of brutally stopping the program raise questions about its compliance with MotoGP’s strict technical regulations.

According to sources close to the paddock, Dall’Iga claimed that Yamaha’s V4 development process violated MotoGP homologation rules, including the use of homologated components during testing. Although the exact nature of the alleged irregularities remains unclear, these allegations echo the decision made in 2020, when Yamaha was fined for using homologated valves in its engines. This error, attributed to a “shortcoming”, was criticized by Paolo Ciabatti, then director of Ducati, who called it a “previous danger”. The 2020 decision saw Yamaha lose cost and team points, but spared its riders, sparking debates over the application of the regulations. Dall’Iga’s accusations, made during a press conference after the Grand Prix of Brÿ, suggested that Yamaha may have co-operated with the protocols to accelerate its V4 program, potentially gaining a fair advantage.

Yamaha’s response was quick and decisive. Paolo Pavesio, who officially took up his position as general director of Yamaha Motor Racing on January 1, 2025, has published that he committed all this wrongdoing, but has announced immediate approval of V4 testing to ensure compliance with MotoGP regulations. The decision to scrap the $300 million investment, which included hiring top-level engineers and expanding testing facilities, stunned observers, given Yamaha’s determination to regain competitiveness after a winning 2023 season and a difficult 2024 season. Yamaha star rider and 2021 champion Fabio Quartararo expressed his frustration but stopped short of making the allegations, stating only that the team remained focused on improving the current M1.

The fallout has sparked heated debate on platforms like X, where both outrage and criticism have been expressed. Some argue that Ducati’s accusations are part of a strategy aimed at destabilizing Yamaha’s full recovery, especially after Qartararo’s strong performance at the Sepang tests at the start of the year. Others believe that Yamaha’s decision to discontinue the program reflects its careful approach to avoiding further sanctions, particularly given its history of regulatory abuses. Industry analysts suggest that the financial consequences of abandoning the V4 project could strain Yamaha’s resources, especially since it is in collaboration with Ducati’s eight-rider domestic lineup and is gearing up for the 850cc engine era by 2027. The timing of this collaboration is particularly damaging for Yamaha, which was banking on the V4 to restore its status as MotoGP power. With only 133 points in the 2025 standings, behind Ducati’s 430, Yamaha’s on-track difficulties have been compounded by off-track challenges. The arrival of experienced riders like Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira at the Pramac-Yamaha team was expected to provide valuable data, but the V4’s suspension could delay progress. During this time, Dυcati is trying to dominate the peloton, Marc Márqυez and Fracesco Bagpaia dominate the last races. While the MotoGP season reaches its task, the FIM, the management body in sport, it has not yet received an official request for Dall’Igпa’s accolades. Yamaha is at a crucial point: maintaining the coпfiance of regulators and facilitators and filling its performance gap. Pavesio has committed to full cooperation in all matters, insisting on transparency and ensuring fair competition. For now, the paddock is watching the situation closely, wondering if Yamaha will manage to recover from this setback or if Ducati’s victories will score on its MotoGP course.