Yamaha V4 “30% different” at Jerez MotoGP, but “not enough”

Augusto Fernandez says Yamaha’s new V4 MotoGP machine is “30% different” from the prototype he raced last year, but admits it is still “not enough”.

The Yamaha test rider made the assessment during his first wildcard appearance of the season at Jerez, where he went on to qualify as the leading M1 rider in wet conditions.

While long straights at the opening three rounds punished the V4's engine performance, the tight and twisty Jerez layout highlighted handling issues.

The Spaniard agreed with star rider Fabio Quartararo that the bike lacks the front-end feeling of the previous Inline machine.

“I think all the riders from Yamaha said that the front of the [Inline] was incredible, fantastic. We had other problems with last year’s Yamaha, but it’s what we are missing now, plus more things,” Fernandez explained.

The former Moto2 world champion added that the main purpose of his Jerez wildcard was to help identify the root cause of such issues.

“That's why I'm here, to get more information… For sure, it's not easy to make a competitive bike in one year, but we'll get there.”

Fernandez confirmed that they currently “don’t have a base” setting for the V4.

“We still need to understand which direction we have to take,” he said. “We know the problems on the track, the feeling on the front, the turning, the engine.

“But we still have to discover what will bring us the turning, the pace, to be faster. It takes time, but hopefully we can be there soon.”

Fernandez went on to finish 13th in the Sprint and then 20th after a rear brake issue in the grand prix. His next wildcard will be at Barcelona later this month.

A recent MotoGP rule change means that Fernandez, like the other factory test riders, will be unable to make any wildcard appearances from 2027.

After 14th place and top Yamaha in the Spanish Grand Prix, Quartararo made progress with the front-end feeling of the V4 on his way to seventh place in the Monday test.