Yamaha appears to be carrying its distinctive tri-plane front-wing idea into MotoGP’s 850cc era. Crash.net reports that a GPOne.com photograph shows the Yamaha prototype being tested by Augusto Fernandez with a revised, more compact version of the layout.

Three separate wings can be seen on each side of the nose. Compared with Yamaha’s current 1000cc design, the loop linking the outer edges has disappeared, while the individual elements are smaller. Yamaha is currently the only 1000cc MotoGP machine using this arrangement.

The change follows a development path that has already favoured the concept. Yamaha opened the season with a more conventional box-wing, returned to the three-level solution and then used its D concession ranking to introduce another front-wing evolution that remains in use.

The 2027 aero limits

The next rule set leaves less room for large aerodynamic surfaces. The maximum width of the upper section of the front-fairing Aero Body will fall from 600mm to 550mm, while maximum rear-end height will be reduced from 1250mm to 1150mm. The foremost point of the front fairing will move back by 50mm, and the rearward taper of its aero appendages will become narrower.

Rear aerodynamics will also have to be approved as part of the Aero Body. As a result, manufacturers will be limited to one rear-aero update during the season, depending on their concession status. Ducati’s 850cc prototype has so far appeared with a single-plane front wing, but the factories are expected to keep their final 2027 solutions under wraps until winter testing, before official approval at the season opener in Thailand.

According to Crash.net, Yamaha’s 2027 factory line-up will consist of Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura. Toprak Razgatlioglu will remain with Pramac, alongside rookie Izan Guevara.