š£ “IT’S A BRANDED FRAUD!” – Gigi Dall’igna points the finger at Yamaha and demands an urgent investigation from the FIM.
When Yamaha officially unveiled its new V4 engine for MotoGP earlier this week, the paddock was thrilled. However, the immediate wave of acceptance that would follow the statements of Ducati’s CEO, Gigi Dall’Igna, was expected. “It is clear cheating,” he declared without further ado to the press conference, accusing Yamaha of violating technical regulations and calling for emergency action by the FIM president.
Yamaha’s reaction, which claimed that its V4 engine was fully compliant with MotoGP homologation rules, sparked further controversy. The rumors of the previous months had fueled the idea that Yamaha was developing a new, radical design, potentially bordering on regulatory interpretations. Once the project was finally released, Ducati saw the red lines pass. Dalla Iga, known for his forthright assessments and loyalty to Ducati’s technological leadership, accused Yamaha of using secret internal parts and cooling systems that had been approved and publicly disclosed. He argued that the combustion chamber geometry had been modified to provide greater power and torque than what was allowed by the rules for similar displacements. He has requested immediate intervention from the leaders of the FédératioŠæ IŠæterŠæatioŠæale de Motocyclisme (FIM).
IdagiŠæe Lampo e RisυltatiFoŠæti reported that within ten minutes of Dall’IgŠæa’s exit, the FIM technical delegates began an impromptu review. They settled in the technical room adjacent to the Yamaha paddock, studied the engine specifications and homologation documents, and compared them with the new design released. The suspicion in the paddock was palpable. The result: Yamaha was exonerated. The technical review concluded that, although some internal parts and aerodynamic elements were at the limits of compliance, they violated some written rules. All modifications were within the tolerances established by the 2025 type approval regulations.
Many were surprised to believe that Yamaha had actually cheated, but the speed and decisiveness of the FIM’s response made it clear that it had not been preceded by the racing system. Reactions and Outlook Fürth Dall’Iglesias accepted the decision, albeit reluctantly. “We respect the process,” he said, “but we will continue to monitor closely.” Yamaha’s engineers reportedly conducted independent measurements based on the released Yamaha parts, while the team’s riders were instructed to observe any performance differences during upcoming tests. Yamaha, for its part, welcomed the FIM’s verdict, saying the design had been presented well in advance and that all critical dimensions were consistent. “We are delighted that the technical commission has validated our design,” said Yamaha’s senior engineer.
Reactions in the paddock have been mixed. Some rival teams have expressed relief at the speed of the regulatory action, while others remain skeptical about the potential performance gains that are evident on paper. The Ducati fans supported Dall’Iga, applauding his determination to fight what they perceive as unfair play. In a sport where the mechanical margins are thin and the stakes high, this lightning attack will be remembered as a crucial moment. It underscores the importance of precise technical regulations and how disputes can arise quickly. The peace of this temporary truce will be revealed in the coming matches.
