This week, Yamaha and Honda will take part in a private test in Valencia, hoping it could help them in the development process.

Yamaha is hoping to test their much-anticipated V4 engine, which could mark a major shift from the brand’s traditional inline-four setup. The new engine will be put to the test in Valencia on Tuesday and Wednesday, marking the first time it has been tested on European ground.

Previously, Yamaha ran an early version of the V4 during a private test in Sepang, but at the time the engine was still in the early development stages—especially when it came to electronics.

Despite factory riders Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins being allowed to test the engine under Yamaha’s current development concessions, the actual testing duties in Valencia will fall to test riders Cal Crutchlow and Augusto Fernandez.

Crutchlow will make his return after nearly a year out due to complications from hand surgery. Yamaha Motorsport Director Paolo Pavesio confirmed to Speedweek that the Brit is now fully fit and ready to resume his test duties:

“Finally—Cal is 100 percent recovered from his hand injury,” Pavesio said.

He will be joined by Fernandez, who joined Yamaha’s test team after losing his KTM race seat. Fernandez recently stepped in for the injured Miguel Oliveira at Pramac and has remained active on the racing scene.

Originally, Andrea Dovizioso was brought in to focus on V4 development, but a recent domestic injury sidelined him. Still, Yamaha’s V4 project is moving forward with solid support from Marmotors, an engineering company led by former Formula 1 expert Luca Marmorini.

Yamaha is currently the only manufacturer on the MotoGP grid still using an inline-four engine. However, increasing pressure from riders about the lack of top speed has made the V4 development a priority. Still, fans shouldn’t expect to see it on the grid in 2025. As Pavesio told Autosport earlier this year:

“If and when the bike with the V4 engine is better than the one we are using now, then we will introduce it… but it is not realistic to think about making the change in 2025.”

Although engine development is frozen from 2024 to 2026 under current MotoGP rules, Yamaha has been allowed to work on the V4 prototype under existing 1000cc regulations. In 2027, however, a major rule change will see MotoGP engines shift to 850cc.

Test Relocated to Valencia

This week’s test was originally scheduled for Jerez, but heavy flooding forced the circuit to temporarily close. As a result, the teams switched to Valencia, which hasn’t hosted prototype testing since late 2024 when floods canceled the usual season finale.

Valencia was chosen also due to MotoGP's regulation that bans testing at a circuit within 14 days of a scheduled race. Since Jerez is set to host the Spanish Grand Prix next weekend, it was off-limits for testing.

Honda Also Testing

Joining Yamaha in Valencia is fellow Japanese manufacturer Honda, which is continuing development of its RC213V.

Recently retired Aleix Espargaro will make his debut as a Honda test rider, teaming up with veteran test rider Stefan Bradl. Espargaro stepped away from racing at the end of the 2024 season and is now taking on a new development role at Honda.

However, Honda isn't expecting its biggest upgrades to arrive until after the Spanish Grand Prix, during the Jerez test. Team manager Alberto Puig hinted at significant updates during an interview in Qatar, as reported by Autosport:

“I’m not going to say anything, but quite a few important things are coming that could really help