MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Fabio Quartararo’s visible frustration aboard Yamaha’s new V4 machine dominated discussion on Day 1 of the 2026 pre-season test in Buriram. Yet beyond the emotional reaction, the central question remains whether the project shows any meaningful signs of progress.
Yamaha introduced its V4 concept as a strategic shift aimed at returning to championship contention in the FIM MotoGP World Championship after several difficult seasons. The early phase, however, has been turbulent. Following unconvincing wildcard appearances last year and the loss of a full testing day at Sepang due to engine issues, expectations for Buriram were cautious.
While there were no repeat reliability failures in Thailand, performance remained under scrutiny. Jack Miller emerged as Yamaha’s leading rider in 17th, over one second adrift of the benchmark set by Alex Marquez on the 2026-spec Ducati. Quartararo admitted the team is still struggling to establish a consistent base setting.
“Maybe the other Yamaha riders are a bit better. But since I’ve been with this bike, I’ve never made two runs in a row with the same bike.”
“We’re always trying something different. Even changing a lot, we’re not able to find a base setting and make an improvement.”
From a technical perspective, Yamaha is estimated to be conceding around 10km/h to the fastest bikes on the grid. Alex Rins highlighted deficiencies in both engine performance and traction, noting that Ducati, Honda and Aprilia are gaining significantly on corner exits before extending that advantage on the straights.
“We are losing a lot in terms of engine power. That was quite clear. But also on traction. They recover better out of the corners and gain more on the straights.”
Rins acknowledged the internal frustration within the garage, describing the physical and emotional toll of pushing to the limit for positions outside the top 15.
In contrast, Miller adopted a more constructive tone. The Pramac rider indicated improvements in chassis balance compared to Malaysia and reported competitive feeling in sectors three and four, particularly with the alternative tyre casing available for this test.
“We’re not going to find 10km/h overnight. That’s what we’re missing at the moment. But overall, I’m enjoying riding the bike. It’s doing some decent things.”
With a substantial speed deficit still evident and set-up consistency yet to be achieved, Yamaha’s V4 project remains at a critical development stage. The second day of testing in Buriram will provide further clarity on whether incremental gains can translate into tangible competitiveness ahead of the season opener.
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