Yamaha has admitted that launching their new V4 engine before the end of the 2025 MotoGP season is simply not realistic. While fans and experts have been expecting this change, it seems that the wait will continue until 2026.

For over a decade, Yamaha stood out as the only manufacturer in MotoGP still using an inline-four-cylinder engine. This configuration has brought the team success, with six championship titles. However, with Ducati dominating the grid in recent years, everyone is forced to explore new technologies to stay competitive.

At the end of last year, Yamaha confirmed that they are making serious progress on the V4 engine. Followed by a report by Autosport, the company hinted that the bike could appear on the track mid-2025 season, but there was never a confirmation about this rumor.

Now, Yamaha’s new MotoGP boss, Paolo Pavesio, has made it clear that the V4 engine won’t be race-ready until 2026. That year will also mark the final season under the 1000cc engine regulations.

"Our short- to mid-term goal is to finish races in the top five while developing the V4 project," Pavesio explained for Autosport. "It’s not just an engine—we’re working on an entire new bike. We need results now, but we’re also building for the future. We will only introduce the V4 when it’s truly better than our current bike."

Yamaha had planned to test the new engine at Jerez in December under the control of Andrea Dovizioso taking it for a ride. However, that test was canceled, and the engine was postponed once again. Now, it is possible that the engine won’t be on track until April.

Yamaha has been maximizing their efforts in recent years. The team even secured a partnership with Pramac Racing, bringing them aboard as a satellite team with full factory support. Meanwhile, the technical department is pushing hard with the V4 engine development.

However, there is one advantage that Yamaha has over their competitors, and that is the freedom to continue the development of their engine. While Ducati, Aprilia, and KTM will face engine freeze regulations in 2025 and 2026, Yamaha, along with Honda, will benefit from special concessions, allowing them unrestricted development.