Massimo Meregalli, the Team Director of Yamaha, has pulled back the curtain on the tumultuous 2025 season, and it’s not pretty. Once again, Yamaha finds itself languishing at the bottom of the standings, alongside Honda, failing to break into the top three. While Honda has managed to secure some improvements and level up its concessions, Yamaha remains stagnant, holding onto all its concessions heading into 2026 with hopes pinned on the new V4.
In a candid assessment featured on MotoGP’s official website, Meregalli did not shy away from the challenges faced by his team. “It has been a very tough season; we have improved the performance of the bike significantly,” he stated. He highlighted the bright spots in the performances of the team’s riders, particularly Fabio Quartararo, who has seen his points nearly double compared to last year, capturing podium finishes and records along the way. Yet, he acknowledged the struggles of Álex Rins, who started the season below expectations but began to show signs of improvement after the race in Motegi.
Meregalli didn’t hold back in identifying the pitfalls that plagued Yamaha throughout the year. “Surely we wanted to be a little closer to the leader, but we know we lost the opportunity to win a race in Silverstone due to a small issue. Also in Le Mans, we missed out on some good opportunities, but we can’t be disappointed,” he reflected, underlining the slim margins that kept Yamaha from achieving greater success.
Turning his attention to the satellite team, Prima Pramac, Meregalli expressed optimism about their collaboration. “In the past, when we had another satellite team, we never had the same package. But Pramac is a factory team, so we can compare data among all riders. The collaboration with them has been very positive and important for us, because it’s not just another team; it’s something more,” he noted, emphasizing the strategic benefits of working closely with a team that shares resources and insights.
As for the much-anticipated V4 project, Meregalli revealed that progress is underway. “On the other hand, we are also developing a new project in parallel (V4). The fact that we could already make modifications and advances without issues was a major achievement. The new bike is in the early stages of its life and performance, but we can say that the project has started well. We will use this beginning to further develop the bike,” he explained, hinting at a future that could see Yamaha reclaiming its competitive edge.
Looking ahead to 2026, Meregalli forecasts a pivotal shift as they seek to enhance the new Yamaha. “We can expect the second half of the season to start improving and being more competitive. But as you can imagine, we are transitioning from one project to another without any prior knowledge. We need a lot of information; we need to have the foundation. We use testing and data collection to gain more insights from our factory riders. This will certainly accelerate the bike’s development,” he concluded, leaving fans with a glimmer of hope amid the current challenges.
As the dust settles on a season filled with trials, Yamaha’s focus on the future suggests that the roar of the V4 may soon echo through the paddocks, promising a more thrilling ride ahead.
