MotoGP: Yamaha's V4 Prototype Delivers Solid Data in Sepang: Fernández Finishes 18th in Wildcard Outing

Sepang, Malaysia – October 26, 2025 – Yamaha Factory Racing marked another milestone in its MotoGP development program as its V4-powered prototype successfully completed a second full-length race at the Grand Prix of Malaysia last Sunday. Wildcard entry Augusto Fernández piloted the experimental machine to an 18th-place finish at the Sepang International Circuit, providing the Japanese manufacturer with crucial dry-track data ahead of its full 2026 assault on the premier class.

In a weekend dedicated to testing rather than outright contention, Fernández stuck to his pre-race script: endure the 20-lap distance, push the bike's limits, and harvest insights under race conditions. Starting from a distant 23rd on the grid, the Spanish test rider wasted little time making his mark, overtaking Michele Pirro on the opening lap to slot into 22nd. From there, it was a gritty solo effort, as Fernández opted not to latch onto any rider groups, focusing instead on consistent laps and mechanical feedback.

The race unfolded with its share of drama, which inadvertently aided Fernández's final position. A crash on lap 5 shuffled the field, leaving him in 21st, but two more retirements and Tech3 KTM's Miguel Oliveira fading to the rear propelled him as high as 19th midway through. With seven laps remaining, Pirro mounted a comeback charge, briefly demoting Fernández to 20th in a wheel-to-wheel scrap. Yet, as attrition took its toll—two additional riders failing to see the checkered flag—the Yamaha tester clawed back two spots, crossing the line 47.060 seconds behind winner Francesco Bagnaia.

"It's a busy weekend, and we've settled on a clear direction to take for the next test and wildcard race weekend in Valencia to improve further," Fernández reflected post-race. "We've been working on the balance of the bike, and we need to keep working on it and set a base. The process will take a bit of time, so we need to keep working hard."

For Yamaha, the outing underscores the steady progress of its inline-four revival project, a bold pivot from the long-serving crossplane inline-four that powered its stars for over two decades. The V4 prototype, first unveiled earlier this season, aims to bridge the gap to the midfield pack by blending Yamaha's chassis expertise with a more potent powerplant. Sunday's run—flawless in terms of reliability—builds on a similar wildcard appearance at Aragon, where the bike logged its inaugural full race distance.

The result leaves Fernández tied for 24th in the rider standings with 8 points, while Yamaha holds fifth in the constructors' championship on 221 points, trailing Ducati, Aprilia, KTM, and Honda.

With the season finale looming in Valencia next month, all eyes will be on how this Sepang intel shapes the prototype's evolution. Yamaha's engineers now have a treasure trove of data to dissect, promising a sharper tool for Fernández's next wildcard ride—and perhaps a glimpse of the future for factory aces Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins.