Overview

• Yamaha presented its V4‑powered YZR‑M1 publicly in the Misano paddock and will debut it this weekend with test rider Augusto Fernandez as a wildcard.
• Fernandez has extended his role as Yamaha’s official test and wildcard rider through 2027, with further duties at IRTA and private tests.
• Fabio Quartararo and other Yamaha riders tried the V4 in private and are slated to test it on Monday at Misano, but they cannot race it in 2025 due to pre‑declared gearbox ratios and used fairing homologations.
• Yamaha, operating with Rank D concessions that allow engine changes, will choose between the V4 and the inline‑four for 2026 after evaluating Misano data and further tests at Sepang and Valencia.
• Technical leaders cite packaging gains from the V4—narrower aero by roughly 10–15 cm, shifted weight distribution and potential weight savings—as key to reversing recent performance decline.