Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
Pramac doesn’t expect Yamaha to race at the front from the outset of MotoGP’s 850cc era, but believes the Japanese manufacturer can close the gap by the end of the 2027 season. Having already overhauled the M1 this year to incorporate a new V4 engine, Yamaha is now working on another major shift, with new technical regulations coming into force for the next campaign. The new ruleset ... Keep…
Yamaha may struggle to be competitive in MotoGP's upcoming 850cc era, according to Pramac, the team's manager. Yamaha is set to introduce a new V4 engine after overhauling the M1 this year, but Pramac doesn't expect the Japanese manufacturer to race at the front from the start. The new technical regulations will require heavy investments in clean-sheet designs for engine capacity, aerodynamics, ride-height devices, and tyre suppliers.
Pramac believes the new rules offer Yamaha a "great chance" to "start from zero" and regain competitiveness, especially after being at the bottom of the pecking order in the last two seasons. However, team manager Paolo Bonora suggests the M1 may carry a deficit in the early races of 2027. Yamaha's 2027 bike will continue the V4 configuration, despite the engine displacement being reduced from 1000cc to 850cc.
The team hopes to make a significant improvement in engine power by late 2027, but acknowledges that outright power remains a weakness. Pramac's involvement in MotoGP has been crucial in helping Yamaha prepare for the upcoming regulations.
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