Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Unveils V4 Era: A New Livery in Indonesia
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team has officially launched its 2026 campaign in Indonesia, marking the beginning of Yamaha's V4 era. The presentation was part of Yamaha Motor Indonesia's 3S Dealer Meeting in Jakarta, where the team revealed their refreshed color scheme and the completely redesigned YZR-M1. The new livery retains the characteristic camouflage theme but with a refreshed look featuring more blue and white, ready to take to the track with Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins.
"I am ready to start riding again!" exclaimed Quartararo. "The team launch is always a moment when the energy and enthusiasm for the new season build up, and the Indonesian fans couldn't be more supportive. It's exciting to begin this new chapter. The V4 engine is a significant change, and I'm eager to see how it performs on the track. I believe the fans and media are equally curious. I've been training hard all winter, so I'm ready to give it my all. Indonesia is the perfect place to start, as the fans here are incredible. I will do my best to make them proud."
Rins added, "It's always a pleasure to visit Indonesia. The fans here are truly special. Last year, I gained momentum at the end of the season, and the Indonesian GP was undoubtedly the best weekend. Starting the season with the team presentation here in Jakarta, I feel highly motivated. I want to carry this energy into the 2026 season. The new bike offers us more development opportunities, which is highly motivating. We have a lot of work ahead, but I can't wait. I've been working hard during the off-season to be ready from the first test. It's a new era for Yamaha, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it."
Takahiro Sumi, General Manager of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.'s Motor Sports Development Division & President of Yamaha Motor Racing, and Paolo Pavesio, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing & Team Principal of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, highlighted the remarkable achievement of developing the new V4-powered YZR-M1 in parallel with racing in 2025, an unprecedented challenge in the modern MotoGP era. They emphasized the importance of seamless alignment between Japan and Italy and creating an environment where specialists from diverse backgrounds can excel.
Massimo Meregalli, Team Director of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, stated that the focus in 2026 will be on extracting performance and building consistency weekend after weekend while getting acquainted with the new machine. Positive results are expected as a consequence of getting the fundamentals right.
Sumi continued, "2026 marks the start of Yamaha's V4 era, and it's an exciting chapter. However, it demands discipline, data, and dedication from everyone involved: our Factory in Japan, Yamaha Motor Racing in Italy, the Factory Teams, and our Test Team. Last year's parallel development of three platforms provided a solid foundation for this year, allowing us to focus on growing the 2026 M1 powered by the new V4 engine while continuing to work on the 2027 prototype."
Pavesio added, "2026 is crucial as it accelerates Yamaha's transformation. It's phase two of our Blue Shift plan. The new M1 we've introduced gives us far more development margin than before. I envision a season where we will grow our understanding of the new bike and improve our performance lap by lap, race by race."
"Indonesia is the perfect place to start this new chapter. It's home to one of the most passionate motorcycling communities in the world, and it's a key market for Yamaha. Hosting the team launch alongside the YIMM 3S Dealer Meeting highlights the importance of this region to Yamaha's vision. The energy and enthusiasm here inspire us and strengthen our commitment to a big upcoming challenge and a long MotoGP season, counting 22 rounds in total."
"I also want to highlight the partnerships that fuel our journey. Monster Energy has been a trusted force alongside Yamaha for more than a decade across multiple racing disciplines. In MotoGP, they became our title sponsor in 2019, a milestone announced right here in Jakarta. This partnership is built on a shared love of racing and pushing the level of performance to the limit, and together we will strive to make many more unforgettable moments."
"We are also proud to welcome DP World as a new partner. Their world-leading logistics expertise will help us simplify operations and enable performance with absolute precision. DP World's presence signals ambition and momentum, perfectly aligning with Yamaha's fast-moving MotoGP project as well as other classes, which we'll cover in more detail during next week's DP World x Yamaha event held in Dubai."
"Last but not least, I cannot wait to see Fabio and Álex riding the new bike in Sepang in less than a couple of weeks. The first test is always special, but with a completely new project, this preseason is even more special!"
Meregalli concluded, "Unveiling this new 2026 bike is a special moment because it represents months of hard work from many people in the garage and back in Japan. This year, the biggest change is technical: we start with a completely new project, which will create an exciting atmosphere inside the garage, especially at the upcoming tests and the opening round. There will be a steep but interesting learning curve, and everyone - mechanics, engineers, riders - will be pushing in the same direction from day one."
After coming so close to a win in 2025, what will the V4 era bring? The team will start soon, as Yamaha is able to field all their riders at the Shakedown thanks to their concessions. Stay tuned as the engines warm up at Sepang next week.
