The MotoGP paddock was abuzz with excitement today as Yamaha’s highly anticipated V4 engine made its long-awaited debut at the Sepang Shakedown Test, sending shockwaves through the grid and catching dominant rivals Ducati off guard. This pivotal moment marks a significant shift for the Japanese manufacturer, which has been the last holdout in MotoGP to rely on its traditional inline-four-cylinder engine. Yamaha’s bold move to a V4 configuration, aligning with competitors like Ducati, Aprilia, Honda, and KTM, signals an ambitious push to reclaim its competitive edge in the 2025 season and beyond. The test, conducted behind closed doors at the Sepang International Circuit from January 31 to February 2, 2025, offered a glimpse into Yamaha’s revitalized approach, leaving observers and rivals alike stunned by the progress displayed.v

Yamaha’s journey to this point has been one of transformation. Since Fabio Quartararo’s 2021 MotoGP championship, Yamaha’s performance has waned, with the team struggling to match the pace of Ducati’s V4-powered Desmosedici, which has dominated recent seasons. The inline-four M1, once praised for its smooth power delivery and corner speed, has been outpaced in top speed and overall competitiveness, particularly as aerodynamics and ride-height devices have shifted the sport’s technical landscape. Recognizing the need for change, Yamaha initiated its V4 project in 2024, bolstered by the expertise of former Ducati technical director Max Bartolini and F1 engine consultant Luca Marmorini. The team also recruited engineers from Ducati, signaling a clear intent to emulate the Italian manufacturer’s success while leveraging Yamaha’s storied engineering heritage.

The Sepang Shakedown Test was the first public outing for the V4 engine, following a private test earlier in 2025 at the same circuit. Initial plans to debut the engine at a KTM-organized test in Jerez in December 2024 were scrapped due to the engine’s incomplete state, as confirmed by Yamaha rider Alex Rins on the Por Orejas podcast. However, the additional development time proved fruitful. At Sepang, test riders Andrea Dovizioso and Augusto Fernandez, alongside factory riders Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, and Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira, put the new V4 through its paces. While official timing was absent, reports from the paddock indicate that the V4-powered M1 showed promising pace, with Quartararo reportedly setting lap times competitive with the best from the previous year’s Sepang test.

Ducati, the benchmark in MotoGP, was caught off guard by Yamaha’s progress. The Italian manufacturer, which has won the last three riders’ championships and five constructors’ titles, has relied on its refined V4 Desmosedici to dominate the grid. However, Yamaha’s strong showing at Sepang, particularly Quartararo’s ability to consistently run near the top, raised eyebrows. Sources close to Ducati noted that their engineers were surprised by the V4’s early competitiveness, especially given Yamaha’s limited experience with the configuration. While Ducati’s GP24 remains the bike to beat, with Alex Marquez and Franco Morbidelli posting strong times, the emergence of Yamaha’s V4 suggests a potential challenge to their supremacy.

Yamaha’s decision to pursue a V4 is not without risks. As Bartolini emphasized to MotoGP.com, transitioning to a V4 requires building an entirely new bike, with a different chassis, weight distribution, and electronics. This complexity means Yamaha is not expected to race the V4 until at least the second half of 2025, with some speculating it may not be fully race-ready until 2026. For now, Yamaha plans to continue racing its inline-four M1, which showed significant improvement at Sepang, with Quartararo posting a best lap of 1m56.724s, 0.801 seconds faster than his 2024 test time. This progress, combined with the V4’s potential, has instilled renewed optimism in the team.

The Sepang test also highlighted Yamaha’s strategic advantage under MotoGP’s concession system, which allows the Japanese manufacturer to test freely with race riders and develop engines without the restrictions faced by Ducati, Aprilia, and KTM. This flexibility, coupled with the addition of Pramac as a satellite team, gives Yamaha access to more data and rider feedback, further accelerating development. Riders like Miller and Oliveira expressed confidence in the current M1, with Miller stating to The Race that the inline-four remains “pretty strong,” but the V4’s debut has sparked excitement about Yamaha’s long-term prospects.

As the MotoGP season approaches, with the official IRTA test set for February 5-7, 2025, at Sepang, all eyes will be on Yamaha to see if the V4 can sustain its early promise. The upcoming Buriram test in Thailand will provide further clarity on whether Yamaha’s progress is genuine or track-specific. For now, Yamaha’s bold step into the V4 era has sent a clear message to Ducati and the rest of the grid: the Japanese giant is back, and they mean business.