The V4-engined MotoGP bike that Yamaha is developing was two seconds a lap slower than its current inline-four racer in testing at Brno last week, according to factory rider Alex Rins.
Last week, Rins and Pramac Yamaha racer Miguel Oliveira conducted a private test at the Brno circuit, where the Iwata-based manufacturer’s test team also worked on the V4 project with two of its test riders, Augusto Fernandez and Andrea Dovizioso.
Since Suzuki’s withdrawal, Yamaha is the only MotoGP manufacturer to continue using an inline-four engine in its race bike. But, the manufacturer has been working on the alternative V4 engine since last year.
With Fernandez and Dovizioso in the garage next door testing the new bike, Rins’ eyes and fingers wandered. He uploaded a video to his social media – only to have it deleted by his bosses.
“It’s inevitable – and you can't even imagine how hard I tried to get them to let me test the bike. And they told me, ‘No way’,” he said at the Sachsenring, laughing.
“I don't know if I can say it, but what I saw is that [the V4] is very good. As is normal, in such a new project there are always things to test. They [told me off] because I uploaded a video of Augusto going out on track, and they made me delete it.
“What I can tell you is that I was riding behind Augusto in the practice starts we did, and I was surprised,” admitted Rins, who has no information about when he will be able to test the new bike.
Autosport then asked Rins if he could talk about the difference in times between the standard bike and the V4.
“I did 1m52.7s with my bike and I think they – Augusto – managed to lap in 1m54.8s or 1m54.7s,” he replied, suggesting a difference of around two seconds.
Rins, however, does not believe that is the true gap, given how few laps the V4 ran – as well as a lack of new-tyre runs.
“It's not really two seconds, it’s less. I did 70 laps the first day and 40 the second. I think they did 30 laps between the two riders over the two days because they had to spend a lot of time stopped, assembling and disassembling things.”
Rins' team-mate Fabio Quartararo was also questioned about the V4 in Germany, but says he will not be able to offer comments until his first ride on the machine, which is mooted for September.
“I will test it around September, I think at Misano,” said the Frenchman. “The comments are positive, but until I test the bike, it’s just the engineers telling me things. I can’t really feel the potential until I test it.”
Rins reflected positively on the chance to prepare for Brno, as MotoGP heads back to the Czech circuit for the first time since 2020 next weekend.
"They gave me the option to do the test, and I didn’t hesitate for a second," he said.
"Because first of all, it’s a circuit I like, a real MotoGP track, old-school, one with speed, connected corners and hills. And we haven’t been on it since 2020. It also has new asphalt. I really enjoyed it. The track was quite good, with a lot of grip."
