MotoGP: Yamaha officially enters V4 Era. 2026 Monster Energy MotoGP Livery Unveiled in Jakarta
JAKARTA, Indonesia – The "Blue Shift" has officially hit high gear. Today, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team pulled the covers off their 2026 campaign at the InterContinental Jakarta, confirming the most significant technical pivot in the brand's modern racing history: the arrival of the V4-powered YZR-M1.
With the world’s largest Yamaha dealer meeting as the backdrop, riders Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins introduced a bike that looks familiar but hides a revolution underneath the fairings.
The Big Shift: From Inline-4 to V4
For years, Yamaha stood as the lone sentinel of the Inline-4 engine configuration. That ends now. The 2026 M1 marks the official competition debut of Yamaha’s V4 engine, developed in record time while the team continued racing through the 2025 season.
- Development Speed: Yamaha managed a "parallel development" strategy, building the V4 platform while maintaining their existing racing efforts.
- Early Feedback: Initial data suggests improved braking stability and top-end power—two areas where the M1 has historically struggled against European rivals.
- 2027 Outlook: While 2026 focuses on the V4, the factory is already working on the 2027 prototype to meet upcoming regulation changes.
A Refreshed Look & New Partners
While the "camouflage" theme remains a staple of the Monster Energy partnership, the 2026 livery sees a noticeable increase in blue and white accents, giving it a cleaner, more "factory" feel.
- New Sponsor: Global logistics giant DP World joins as an Official Partner. A dedicated launch event for this partnership is scheduled for January 26 in Dubai.
- Continued Support: Monster Energy enters its 8th year as title sponsor, a relationship that now spans across MotoGP, MXGP, and SX.
The Rider Lineup
- Fabio Quartararo (#20): Entering his 8th season with Yamaha, the 2021 World Champion has been training "around the clock." He remains the spearhead of the project, working alongside crew chief Diego Gubellini to refine the V4’s power delivery.
- Álex Rins (#42): Starting his second full year with the team, Rins is tasked with using his vast experience with different engine configurations to help accelerate the M1’s development curve.
What the Leadership Says
"2026 marks the start of Yamaha's V4 era... Success early on will not be measured just by results: every lap adds knowledge." — Takahiro Sumi, President of Yamaha Motor Racing.
"The new M1 gives us far more development margin than before. This is phase two of our 'Blue Shift' plan." — Paolo Pavesio, Team Principal.
What’s Next?
The 22-round, 44-race season (including Sprints) kicks off shortly. The team is now heading to Sepang for the first official pre-season tests in less than two weeks, where we will see the V4 M1 face off against the grid for the first time in 2026.
