There are a lot of very good reasons for Yamaha to abandon the inline four layout they have used since the birth of MotoGP. Despite the fact they have won eight titles with three riders in the 24 seasons since grand prix motorcycle racing’s premier class switched to four strokes, MotoGP has changed radically.
The most radical changes have arguably come in the period since Yamaha’s last world title, with Fabio Quartararo in 2021. Aerodynamics and ride-height devices have played a major role here, as have the spec Michelin tires. The focus has moved from agility and corner speed to acceleration, with ride-height devices worth several tenths of a second a lap, especially at tracks with slow corners and long straights.
Yamaha’s philosophy was always to maximize corner speed. After all, there are, as legendary crew chief Jeremy Burgess put it, fifteen corners and only straight. A few hundredths per corner soon adds up. Maximizing corner speed also gives you two other advantages: you can enter the corner faster, so you don’t have to brake as late; and you exit the corner carrying more speed, so you can accelerate better.
