Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yamaha is experimenting with a new big-bang firing order for the MotoGP YZR-M1 Inline Four.

The uneven firing order is designed to improve rear-wheel traction.

Two Japanese test riders were seen trying the machine at Sepang on Monday, after Yamaha’s MotoGP teams tested at the Malaysian track.

Yamaha MotoGP engineers confirmed that the engine, which sounds like a V4, was actually the latest version of the Inline Four.