Yamaha consistent with 4 cylinder inline, motorgp 2023

After Suzuki left MotoGP, Yamaha was practically the only manufacturer that still relied on an inline 4-cylinder engine configuration. Why does Yamaha still maintain this engine when its competitors use V4 engines?

Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, Lin Jarvis, said that Yamaha has not yet thought of plans to replace the inline 4-cylinder engine with a V4 engine. Because after all, it is not easy to do. It took years to develop a V4 engine.

"I can't imagine that. Because it is a huge task to design, develop and manufacture a 1000 cc V4 engine for the MotoGP world championship from scratch," Jarvis told Speedweek

"If we plan a new regulation for five years from 2027 to 2031, it might make sense. But we haven't decided which direction we will go because the technical regulation is not fixed yet. It has to be decided in 2023, after that we have four years to develop it. Then, with the new technology, we have the same opportunity for the new MotoGP machine as other manufacturers," continued the man from England.

It is known that currently MotoGP motorbikes are dominated by V4 engines. The machine is used by manufacturers such as Ducati, Honda, Aprilia, to KTM. Even so, that does not mean the V4 engine is superior and cannot be beaten. According to Jarvis, Yamaha can still develop an inline 4-cylinder engine to its maximum extent.

"It would be a very bold and far-reaching decision if we were to 're-engineer' now. We thought it made more sense to proceed with the 'engine design' that we know inside and out," said Jarvis.

"Now I always hear the words 'Suzuki is gone, Yamaha is the only factory with in-line engines'," said Lin Jarvis with a smile. "I then want to answer: 'Yes, we are the only ones who have this advantage!'

Even though it looks left behind from the V4 engine, the inline 4-cylinder engine has proven to be still relevant in modern times. In the last three years, two of the three MotoGP world championships have been won by inline 4-cylinder motorcycles, in 2020 by Joan Mir (Suzuki) and in 2021 by Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha).

"So you can't say that the in-line engines weren't competitive, that we lost," said Jarvis. "Yamaha also finished second in the 2020 season with Franky and in 2022 with Fabio on the M1. We believe strongly in our engine concept and right now we are continuing to go further in this direction".

"I can't imagine short-term changes," he said. "Because if we switch to V4 engines now, we will have a clear disadvantage at the start. We will be left behind, because most of the competition has more than 20 years of experience," he said.