Yamaha is the last bastion for inline fours in the prototype class, or at least it was. For 2025, Yamaha will be the only manufacturer in the premier class of MotoGP to run an inline-four-cylinder powerplant, but due to the concessions afforded to certain manufacturers next season, we might see the first V4 Yamaha of the modern era of MotoGP.
It's no secret that Yamaha is moving to a V4 unit, and the team wants it on track before the regulations change in 2027. But it's MotoGP's concession rules that put Yamaha in a unique position to test it next year. Here's how.
Concessions are based on how many wins a manufacturer has tiered into four classes: A, B, C, and D. Yamaha and Honda fall into class D, meaning they get the most concessions, whereas Ducati receives the least in class A. I won't get into the nitty-gritty of what concessions each class gets, but you can watch Simon Crafar do a quick deep dive in the reel below.
