MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Yamaha limited media access for its riders following a disappointing start to the 2026 MotoGP season in Thailand, as its new V4 project struggled for competitiveness across the Buriram weekend.
All four Yamaha riders finished outside the top 10 in the season opener, crossing the line in 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th positions. The result marked one of the manufacturer’s weakest modern-era starts and underlined the scale of the challenge facing the transition from the long-standing Inline4 concept to the new V4 configuration.
From pre-season testing onwards, Yamaha has acknowledged that the first half of 2026 would effectively serve as an extended development phase. Mechanical issues that cost the team a full day of testing at Sepang, along with visible frustration from Fabio Quartararo during the Buriram test, highlighted the developmental hurdles confronting the project.
Feedback from riders during the Thai Grand Prix weekend was measured rather than optimistic, with Quartararo noting a lack of a clearly defined development direction. The V4 package appeared to suffer from limited top speed, inconsistent rear grip and reduced agility compared to its predecessor.
In response to the underwhelming performance, Yamaha opted not to send its riders to the traditional post-race media sessions on Sunday, instead delegating public communication duties to Yamaha Racing managing director Paolo Pavesio.
“At this moment, I think it’s right that I explain where we stand,” Pavesio said.
“We can see the gap that separates us from the fastest, and we have a mountain to climb. This won’t happen overnight. There is no magic. Every time we go on track, we discover new things.”
Pavesio described Yamaha’s current competitive position as part of a normal learning curve associated with a major technical shift, stressing that progress will be incremental rather than immediate.
With a long season ahead, Yamaha’s focus now turns to progressive gains in traction, tyre management and engine performance. The upcoming rounds will provide further evidence of how quickly the V4 project can narrow the gap to Aprilia, Ducati and KTM in the early phase of the 2026 championship.
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