The Iwata manufacturer’s test riders of reference are in action at Le Castellet, riding during what is also an EWC test. Sources say they swear that a huge amount of work is going in with the carbon coloured Yamaha R1, which, if you look closely, looks very similar to the version currently in use in the championship. The differences must be concealed by the fairings. But will this be the definitive version that we'll see in WorldSBK?
2023 R1: Yamaha believes in SBK and EWC
The manufacturer clearly believes, it is the SBK title holder after all. And so that we understand just how eager Razga is to communicate this to the world, there’s the number 1 plate, the only one that is non-assignable. Will the Turk stay in SBK? It looks like it, at least for the 2023 season.
Alongside him is Andrea Locatelli, one of Italy’s most interesting talents. Yamaha knows this and is holding on to him. The second part of the season will be fundamental for Andrea, who is keen to return to the podium and, why not, win at least one race.
The factory officially competes in the Endurance World Championship too, having won the title with Niccolò Canepa and David Checa in 2016 and 2017. The team of reference was GMT94, while today it is known as YART. The name might change, but it’s nevertheless an ultra-factory project.
Translated by Heather Watson
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