Yamaha’s 2026 MotoGP pre-season test in Malaysia took an unexpected turn as the factory team halted all running on Day 2 at the Sepang International Circuit due to a technical issue with its new M1 V4 engine.
The stoppage came after Fabio Quartararo’s bike stopped on track following an earlier crash that had left him with a broken finger. Engineers soon discovered a technical problem with the new V4, prompting Yamaha to keep all riders — including Alex Rins, Jack Miller, and Toprak Razgatlioglu — in the garage for safety while the issue was investigated.
Technical director Massimo Bartolini said the precise cause remains unclear, underlining the need for caution before returning to track action. The pause cost Yamaha valuable test time, especially as rivals continued development in mixed conditions, and added a dramatic subplot to the early 2026 MotoGP season.