The 2026 MotoGP season is already heating up, and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP is wasting no time in getting a head start. Today, Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins hit the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia to kick off their pre-season testing program, marking a pivotal moment in their journey toward the upcoming championship. But here's where it gets intriguing: both riders are still getting to grips with the V4 engine, a critical component that could make or break their performance next year. Their initial results—15th and 19th place, respectively—might seem modest, but this is just the beginning of what promises to be a transformative season.
Cheste (Spain), 18 November 2025
After a brief one-day hiatus, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team returned to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo for a one-day Valencia Test, officially launching their 2026 pre-season preparations. For Quartararo and Rins, the focus was clear: familiarize themselves with the V4 engine, a task that dominated their agenda. By day's end, they secured 15th and 19th positions in the overall standings, a solid starting point as they fine-tune their approach.
The day didn't start smoothly, though. Overnight rain forced the cancellation of the morning session due to unsafe track conditions, pushing the afternoon session to a rescheduled 13:20-17:30 (GMT+1) slot. Once the action began, Quartararo dove right back into working with the V4 engine, a setup he last experimented with during the Misano Test. While he briefly topped the timesheets early on, his primary focus was refining the base setup. His best lap time of 1'29.927s on lap 36/46 placed him 15th, just 0.554s off the leader.
Rins, meanwhile, was eager to reacquaint himself with the V4 engine, using the session to build comfort and confidence on the 2026 prototype bike. He strategically prioritized race pace and data collection over chasing lap times. His quickest lap of 1'30.720s on lap 4/33 earned him 19th place, 1.347s behind the front-runner. But here’s the part most people miss: Rins’ approach underscores a long-term strategy, focusing on consistency over immediate speed—a move that could pay dividends later in the season.
The team will return to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo tomorrow for a private test before taking a well-deserved winter break. The MotoGP calendar then resumes in the new year with the Sepang shakedown from 29-31 January, followed by the Sepang Test (3-5 February) and the Buriram Test (21-22 February).
And this is where it gets controversial: With the V4 engine still in its early stages of integration, how will Yamaha’s strategy compare to their rivals? Will Quartararo and Rins’ methodical approach give them an edge, or will it leave them playing catch-up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—do you think Yamaha’s focus on engine familiarity is the right move, or should they be pushing harder for speed from the outset?
