Midweek MotoGP (And More) Link Dump: Yamaha's V4, The Valencia Track, And An Intriguing Honda Engine

By David Emmett |

With EICMA happening in Milan, Italy, and the clean up operation in Valencia progressing, news continues to rumble on. So a short list of links and items of interest that caught my eye over the past couple of days.

Yamaha's V4 engine

When rumors first emerged that Yamaha might be building a V4 engine, I found it very hard to believe. The reason for that is simple: the string of MotoGP trophies Yamaha's inline 4 M1 machine has amassed is proof that the concept can be competitive. And to switch from an inline 4 to a V4 requires a complete redesign of the motorcycle from the ground up. The weight distribution, packaging, location of various spinning parts (crankshaft, output gears, etc) all need to be relocated, and that means building a completely new chassis. That is a massive undertaking.

As we have learned over the past couple of months, it is a challenge Yamaha have decided to take on. I was wrong, and what I turned out to be wrongest about is Yamaha's willingness to invest the kind of money and resources it takes to build and develop two completely different MotoGP bikes at the same time. Or rather, four, as Yamaha are starting work on their 850cc project ahead of the rule changes for the 2027 season soon.

Over on Crash.net, veteran MotoGP journalist Peter McLaren has an interview with Yamaha's performance engineer Max Bartolini. Bartolini directly addresses some of those points in the interview, acknowledging that building a V4 engine requires starting almost from scratch ("We won't save almost anything, except maybe brakes, suspension and electronics," from the new bike, Bartolini admits), and is a result of Yamaha being willing to put into the resources. But it is not an effort they can sustain for a long time.

The engine is not yet ready to be put into a chassis, Bartolini tells McLaren, and Yamaha will only be able to evaluate the success of the project once they can compare it to the current inline 4. And Bartolini emphasizes that Yamaha have not yet made a decision on whether to proceed with the V4 or I4, but that they will decide once they can make that comparison. More details, including the benefits of a V4 engine in terms of weight and aerodynamics, in the interview.

KTM with one eye on David Alonso

KTM sporting director Pit Beirer was on Servus TV, the Austrian broadcaster that carries MotoGP, in a studio interview to discuss the Austrian factory's progress in MotoGP. The interview covered a number of subjects, including KTM's current performance in MotoGP. 

Beirer expressed his disappointment with what KTM have achieved so far this year. "We expected a bit more this year," Beirer said. "So far this season we have had twelve podiums, six on Saturday and six on Sunday, and we expected a bit more, especially from our factory riders Jack and Brad". That is a valid criticism, given that five KTM's podiums on Sunday and four on Saturday have been scored by Tech3 GASGAS rookie Pedro Acosta.

Beirer also has a view to the future. CFMOTO Aspar Moto3 rider, and 2024 Moto3 champion David Alonso has been destroying the Moto3 record book this season, becoming the record holder in the lightweight class with 13 victories in a season. Beirer acknowledged they were keeping an eye on Alonso, describing him as "a rough diamond".

Beirer also told Servus that "At some point in the future, you will need a young  rider again." Though KTM have Pedro Acosta, who will turn 21 in May next year, he will be riding alongside Brad Binder, who turns 30 in 2025. With Alonso entering Moto2 next season, there is every chance the young Spaniard/Colombian moves up to MotoGP in 2027.

An intriguing new engine

The EICMA motorcycle show in Milan always throws up new bikes and news, as well as a handful of prototypes. But the most interesting news that caught my eye is Honda debuting a prototype V3 engine, which they launched during EICMA. Details are very light, beyond the fact it is a 75° V3, with two forward cylinders and one rear cylinder, and is being developed for "larger displacement motorcycles". 

It's most interesting feature, however, is an electric compressor used as a supercharger. The compressor, Honda says, "is able to control compression of the intake air irrespective of engine rpm, meaning that high-response torque can be delivered even from lower rpm. In addition, the electrical compressor allows a high degree of freedom of layout of all components in the limited space available on a motorcycle and efficient centralization of mass."

Supercharging and turbocharging is used on a lot of small capacity car engines, as a way of increasing horsepower and torque while retaining fuel efficiency. But the mechanical complexity of adding them to a motorcycle engine and the packaging constraints they have imposed has meant they have seen limited use on motorcycles. Honda's prototype is a fascinating alternative solution to those challenges.

Even if they do build a supercharged motorcycle, it would not automatically be eligible for either the WorldSBK or WorldSSP championships. At the moment, the rules state that all engines must be normally aspirated (the same is true for MotoGP). But the purpose of the WorldSBK championship is to race the motorcycles that the manufacturers are building. And so rules can be changed.

Valencia circuit from above

 After the devastating floods in Valencia, we knew that the area around the track had been damaged, with roads and infrastructure swept away in the floods. But now, someone has flown over the Circuit Ricardo Tormo near Cheste and posted video to YouTube of the damage. 

You can see the footage for yourself in the link, but at first glance, it looks like the track surface is relatively undamaged, though it has clearly had mud and water flowing over it. The grandstands are fairly intact, and most of the structures seem intact. The marquee used as a VIP tent is destroyed, and the whole circuit is caked in a thick layer of mud.

The video vindicates the decision to switch the race to an alternative venue. The track itself looks like it will be fine after it is cleaned up, but the devastation surrounding the track makes it clear that racing at Valencia was never going to be an option.

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Comments

David, no biggie but in the link above to Honda’s V3 prototype it says ‘V4’. Although maybe it’s the autocorrect that can’t believe Honda would produce any engine configurations except in even numbers of cylinders! 🤣

They built a V-3 for Freddie Spencer to win a couple of 500 cc titles with. "The Honda Works NS500 had a two-stroke, three-cylinder V-type engine that displaced 498.6cc (166.2cc / cylinder) with a bore and stroke of 62.6mm x 54.0 mm respectively. The two rear (upward) cylinders and single (front) cylinder were angled 112º apart with a Kehin PE carburetor between them." (from Topspeed.com). 

 

So Dorna allows the V3 in WSBK (if Honda Homologates it).

Then WSBK would have more interesting technology than MotoGP.

Well, it would be interesting if it worked.

If it does work, then we'd get to watch Gigi squirm, while he either blocks a rule change to allow forced induction in MotoGP, or else Ducati introduces forced induction as well.

  1. I'm not super hopeful it will work. Electric forced induction is not a new idea, and adding a whole new system under the seat of a MotoGP bike is a non-trivial engineering problem, even after you've scooped out the variable ride height gubbins.
  2. I can't see how this would "reduce costs" in MotoGP

  3. Just do what Mat Oxley among other knowledgeable people are suggesting:

    Big engines with shitty tires. Sideways for daaaaaaaaaaays!!!

^ Hiya Nick! Methinks this is for Supersport/ADV, sporting standards showing up in several bikes differently. A street bike could have forced induction, race needn't. Looks like a versatile motor, and targeting the Yamaha R9 plus all the adventure etc platforms these motors go in. (If you look at the video/photos, that isn't a 1200cc...more like 850cc size, and for production bikes).

Honda can be conservative. Sometimes they go big with an innovation. I am excited that it appears they are doing the latter finally here. Could be really cool!

There is speculation that the R9 in race trim could outperform the R6 even though peak HP may be just a weee less. Staying open/curious, esp given my particular adoration of the Triple engine when it has a high redline on revs and a nice top end. (R9 is low revving).

The level of racey kit on the brand new KTM RC990 is really great! But, the parallel twin motor format just came in a bit low on the HP. It would be a surprise if it can be Supersport competitive. But LOOK at it, gorgeous! A bit akin the the RC390 going to battle with the Yam R3's yrs ago?

A V3 will be very narrow! Same as the KTM RC9. Holds promise. Go get em Honda, awaken at last from your slumber.

…a friend of mine is an enthusiast of old White trucks. He recently showed me a turbo charged supercharged 2 stroke diesel White truck. This is 1960s technology with a turbo blowing into a supercharger! And a 2 stroke diesel. I had no idea such things existed.

Understood that Yamaha is still a long way from concluding that the V4 can be developed to supersede the inline config. As a purely hypothetical question, could the concessions rules permit Yamaha to race both engine types in the same season? Even more intriguing: with four bikes in blue, would the rules allow Yamaha to race a V4 alongside the I4 in the same race? 

The rules say that both factory riders have to use the same engine spec. So theoretically, Quartararo and Rins could run the V4, and Miller and Oliveira could run the I4. 

However, there are very good reasons why they won't do this (for more than a couple of races). 

  1. Developing two completely different bikes is prohibitively expensive. They need to make a decision on which bike has the most potential, and choose that.
  2. The reason for having a satellite team with equal equipment is to turbocharge the development and setup process by having more data. The data from the V4 will be unusable for the I4, and vice versa. So running 2 different engine layouts would cancel out the benefit of running 4 bikes.

So while it is theoretically possible, the practical constraints make it unlikely. They could possibly give, say, Jack Miller a V4 to  race early on and develop that while the rest continue with the I4, in the knowledge that Miller is essentially sacrificing a season to develop a bike. But again, the question of cost enters in here. Plus it would mean carrying more spares, as nothing bar wheels, forks, and brakes will be interchangeable. 

Thanks David. So theoretically possible. Yamaha gets 6 wildcards if I remember correctly. So another hypothetical (albeit unlikely) could be Augusto Fernandez on the V4 as a wildcard. Or Dovizioso? Crutchlow returns? Gardner? Just fantasizing, but fun speculation - a new mental condition for my thoughts about Blue!

On a sidenote, the economical downturn on behalf of KTM is by far bigger than it was communicated in the last months. KTM is now speaking of at least hundred million euros missing for their business in 2025, which will most likely lead to massive cutoffs and redimensioning the bike output on a large scale.

Or to use a Star Wars quote ... I have a bad feeling about this!