Developing V4 project faces key test as European campaign gets underway in Spain
Prima Pramac Yamaha heads to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for the first European round of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, with the team viewing the venue as a critical development marker for the new Yamaha V4 project.
Jerez is one of the most technical tracks on the calendar, combining hard braking zones, flowing medium-speed corners and limited recovery time between direction changes. With eight left and five right-hand corners and typically high track temperatures, tyre management and front-end confidence will be central to performance over race distance.
The shift to European circuits brings more familiar surroundings for all manufacturers, meaning performance can now be more directly compared against the full grid on tracks where deep reference data exists. Team Director Gino Borsoi believes the circuit could work in the team’s favour. “Jerez is the first European race of the year and a completely different circuit compared to the three we have raced at so far, with characteristics that could potentially suit the new Yamaha V4 project better,” he said. “Of course, we also need to demonstrate over the weekend that we have made the necessary steps to be competitive everywhere.”
Borsoi says the team’s understanding of both riders and machine continues to sharpen. “What is positive is that with time we are understanding more clearly what our riders need and what the bike requires to perform better. We approach Jerez with a very positive mindset and the desire to confirm that this project is moving in the right direction.”
Razgatlioglu finished as the top Yamaha at the last round and will be looking to carry that momentum into Jerez, a circuit he has happy memories at given he sealed his 2023 and 2024 Superbike World Championship titles at the Spanish venue. Miller, meanwhile, will be looking to put last year’s Jerez nightmare firmly behind him, having failed to finish in either the sprint race or the Grand Prix in 2025.
Jack Miller
“I am looking forward to kicking off the European campaign. In this break I hope the guys at Yamaha in Japan have been able to find some good solutions and further analyse the data from the first three GPs so we can continue the development of this new bike. I am looking forward to starting this 12-race European stretch on the right foot.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu
“I really like Jerez, not only because I enjoy the layout and the feeling of riding here, but also because in the past two years I became World Champion on this track, so I have fantastic memories,” he said. “I am looking forward to racing here again, which is usually positive for me, but of course we have a new project with the Yamaha bike, so we need to confirm that the good feeling I have with the track can translate to the bike as well. I know the team is working hard to improve the package, so I am looking forward to giving my best, as always, and hopefully achieving a good result.”
