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HomeMotorsports“Looking forward to the V4 engine”: Quartararo's future depends on Yamaha's development

“Looking forward to the V4 engine”: Quartararo’s future depends on Yamaha’s development

Fabio Quartararo is eagerly awaiting his first test with the Yamaha V4 engine – he is convinced that this is the future – progress will determine whether he stays

Despite recent progress, Fabio Quartararo sees Yamaha’s future from 2026 onwards with the V4 engine. Three pole positions in a row, each with a lap record, have underlined the progress made by the Japanese brand. The inline four-cylinder engine is also being continuously developed.

At the same time, Yamaha is working on a new V4 engine, which Augusto Fernandez tested in Valencia at the end of April. The regular riders have not yet ridden this engine, but it is expected to happen soon.

“There hasn’t been a test yet, but there will be one soon,” says Quartararo, giving a timeframe: “I think there will be a test with the V4 after Aragon.” That would be after the upcoming race weekend.

“To be honest, I’m looking forward to it, but the bike isn’t really ready yet. It’s mainly about seeing how the engine works and getting a first impression of the mappings. There isn’t even a chassis for this bike yet.”

Whether and when test rider Augusto Fernandez will make a wildcard appearance in the second half of the season remains to be seen. Because the engine is only one aspect. The entire motorcycle needs to be redesigned from the ground up.

Nevertheless, Quartararo is certain that Yamaha will race with this prototype next year: “They have made the decision to go down this route – it’s a project I believe in.”

Is that to be understood as a final decision? “I don’t know,” the Frenchman admits at this point. “Normally, yes.” Quartararo hopes that the V4 engine will deliver more peak power on the one hand, and on the other hand, it will allow him to ride the same lines as his competitors.

The general development is also crucial for his future. “One thing is certain: it will be very difficult to stay with Yamaha if I don’t have a competitive bike – be it with a V4, an inline four-cylinder, a three-cylinder or a V6!”

“It’s not that I’m already thinking about the future, because I think it’s still far too early for that. But I think the bike is slowly getting better. We’re finding a lot of pretty positive things at the moment. Now we have to try to stay on the right track.”

It remains to be seen how quickly Yamaha can actually become competitive with the new concept. But the clear strategic focus on V4 engines shows that the engineers in Iwata are willing to make fundamental changes.

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