The reasons for Yamaha’s p🉐ivot toward🦄s a V4 engine have been analysed by Simon Crafar.

The Ja♉panese manufacturer confirmed ahead of this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand♚ Prix that they are developing a V4 powerplant in a massive shift in focus.

Yamaha have used Inline four-cylinder engines since the start of the MotoGP era.

“When I first heard it, during the test, I couldn’t believe it! But where it came from was very believable,”🍸 said Crafar from inside the Misa🐟no paddock.

“I thought ‘Yamaha are really doing this’.

“It’✃s super impressive, I can’t wait to see the bike. I’m glad they’re not trying to hide it or keep it quiet. They are being open about iꩲt. This is magic!”

Yamaha are currently the only MotoGP manufacturer who are not racing with a♍ V4 engine.

But Crafar said: “All th൲e digging I’ve been doing in this job, speaking to engineers, there is nothing wrong with 💞an inline-four, pure-performance wise. There is not.

“Engineers give me reasons why. The exhaust length cannot be the same on a V4 becꦕause of the position of the bike. They want to keep the exhaust length the same for all cylinders, but they can’t, on a V4.

“The inlet length, because they are in different꧒ positions…

“The heat for the back cylinde🎃rs on a V4… there are ꦡdownsides.”

However, Yamaha are 🌼clearly now focused on the potential upsides of a V4 engine.

Crafar said: “The big one, for me, is how narrow the V4 is. It’s only two-and-a-half cylinders wide, a lot narro♔wer, so you push less air.

“Aprilia told us that they went from 82 degrees to 90 degrees, the oil injection and air box can be lower. So the 🦩r𓄧ider position and the screen are lower.

“Not on🌌ly narrower, but lower. Th💃ey push less air. The top speed and acceleration get better.”

Crafar suggested the reasons why Yamaha might hav𝔉e opted for t🌜his sizable change of direction.

“Chassꩲis design is ﷽affected by the narrowness. And manoeuvrability,” he said.

“We’ve heard complaints from Fabio Quartararo about how heavy෴ the machine is.

“I could see Alex Rins and Fabio absolutely destroyed at the end of Mugello where there 🍸are so many second-guess chicanes💖.

“I think that is a part of it, as well.

“The smaller frontal area and manoeuvrability, and 🔯maybe chassis design, are part of theirﷺ decision.”