The reasons for Yamaha’s pivot towards a V4 engine have been analysed 💝ꦅby Simon Crafar.

The Japanese manufacturer confirmed ahead of this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix that they ar🐎e developing a V4 powerplant in a massive shift in focus.

Yamaha have used Inline four-cylinder engines since the start of the MotoGP era.

“When I f𝔉irst heard it, during the test, I couldn’t believe it! But where it came from was very believable,” said Crafar fr𓂃om inside the Misano paddock.

“I thought ‘Yamaha are really doing this’.

“It’s super impressive, I can’t wait to see the bike. I’m glad they’re not trying to hide it or keep it quiet. They are bei🀅ng open about it. This is magic!”

Yamaha are cꦇurrently the only MotoGP 🐻manufacturer who are not racing with a V4 engine.

But Crafar said: “All the digging I’ve been doing in this job, speaking to engineers, there is nothing wrong with an inline-four, pure-performance wise. There 🍰is not.

“Engineers give me reasons why. The exhaust length cannot be the same on a V4 because of the position of the bike. They want to keep the exha🐼ust length the same for all cylinders, but they can’t, on a V4.

“The inlet length⛄, because they are in different positions…

“The heat for the back cylinders on a V4… there are dow✃nsides.”

However, Yamaha are clearly now focused on the potential upsides of aꩲ V4 engine.

Crafa⛦r said: “Th🌠e big one, for me, is how narrow the V4 is. It’s only two-and-a-half cylinders wide, a lot narrower, so you push less air.

“Aprilia told us that they we⭕nt from 82 degrees to 90 degrees, the oil injection and air box can be lower. So the rider position ꦦand the screen are lower.

“Not only narrower, but lower.🍷 They push less air. The top speed and accelꦗeration get better.”

Crafar suggested the reasons why Yamaha might hav🔜e opted for this sizable change of direction.

“Chassis design is affected by the narrowness. And manoeuvrabi🎃lity,” he said.

“We’ve heard complaints from🃏 Fabio Quartararo about how heavy the machine is.

“I could see Alex Rins and Fabio🌞 absolutely destroyed at the end♎ of Mugello where there are so many second-guess chicanes.

“I think that is a part of it, as well.

“The smaller frontal area and manoeuvrability, and maybe chassis design, are part of their dec🦹ision.”