Livio Suppo says solely time will inform whether or not Yamaha’s “brave” resolution to modify to V4 engines in MotoGP will repay.
Yamaha, which has raced with in-line engines for the reason that starting of the MotoGP period, started growing a parallel V4 mission final season.
The manufacturing unit then went all-in on the V4 for 2026, partially with an eye fixed on the upcoming 850cc rules, the place decreased fairing widths favor a narrower V configuration.
Nonetheless, the 1000cc V4 is at present proving to be much less aggressive than the earlier in-line idea and have to be developed in parallel with the brand new 850cc/Pirelli bike.
Star rider Fabio Quartararo is struggling to cover his frustration and is already rumored to be heading to Honda in 2027.
The Frenchman certified fourth in Brazil and completed sixth within the dash, however has but to complete increased than 14th in a Grand Prix.
Yamaha stay on the backside of the constructors’ standings, with 19 factors fewer than on the similar stage final season.
Quartararo is Yamaha’s prime rider, however he’s solely seventeenth within the rider rankings.
“The issue is that Yamaha selected a really troublesome path. I used to be already criticizing their resolution in a method or one other,” Suppo stated. GPOne.com.
“It is true that all the things will change subsequent 12 months, nevertheless it’s additionally true that by constructing each a 1000cc V4 and an 850cc on the similar time, as a substitute of doing one factor effectively, you danger doing two issues unsuitable.
“Though the Inline4-equipped bike wasn’t fairly aggressive final 12 months, we nonetheless managed 5 pole positions and Quartararo would have received at Silverstone if the trip peak valve hadn’t damaged.
“(V4) at present seems to be a good distance from reaching that type of efficiency.”
Regardless of the present challenges, Suppo acknowledged the daring nature of Yamaha’s strategy.
“The technique they’ve chosen is actually very brave and, from some factors of view, admirable.
“They stated, ‘We’re going to work on it this 12 months to verify the bike is even higher subsequent 12 months.
“Time will inform whether or not they have been proper.”
