The move to the V4 engine marks a decisive turning point for Yamaha. After years of domination by inline four-cylinder engines, the tuning fork brand is preparing to revolutionize its MotoGP. Max Bartolini, technical director at Yamaha, has lifted the veil on the reasons for this strategic choice and the challenges ahead.
Yamaha is set to make a major technical evolution with the introduction of a V4 engine, a decision that could shake up the tradition of the inline four-cylinder that has always characterized the M1. Max Bartolini, the new man in charge of technology at Yamaha , explains the reasoning behind this bold change.
« With the V4, everyone thinks about the engine itself, but I think the biggest advantage lies in the layout of the motorcycle, more than in the engine », declares Bartolini. According to him, in terms of pure power, there should not be a big difference compared to the previous architecture. However, the V4 allows the bike to be managed more efficiently, especially by optimizing the work of the tires. It's always a question of making the tires work " he adds on crash.net.
Yamaha has already shown good performance with Bridgestone and Michelin More Bartolini points out that Michelin tends to stress the rear tires more. This is where the V4 engine design could really make a difference, allowing the bike to be built to better meet the demands of the rear tire. Honestly, building the V4 engine is difficult, but It is even more crucial to design the motorcycle around this engine ", he says.
Max Bartolini: “ We can't guarantee anything until we put a performing bike on the track. »
As for the new architecture, Bartolini note that the V4 will be narrower from 10 to 15 centimeters, which will improve aerodynamics. Moreover, weight distribution will be optimized, thus providing easier management of the motorcycle. In general, these two points should give us an advantage. In addition, a V4 engine is generally lighter than an inline four-cylinder engine. “, he specifies.
However, he remains cautious about the V4 release schedule. AlthoughAlex Rins has mentioned a potential launch at middle of next year, Bartolini tempers expectations. At this point we can't guarantee anything until we put a performing bike on the track. Building a new bike requires completely new parts, and we will take almost nothing from the current ones, except maybe the brakes, suspension and electronics "He says.
Finally, he highlights the logistical challenges the team faces. We have limited resources and limited human capacity. Even though the company is large, The competition department is not as extensive as some might think "Concludes Max Bartolini, highlighting the hard work that remains to be done to turn this vision into reality on the track.
