Yamaha announced it will offer a leasing arrangement for its YZR-M1 engines to teams interested in racing in the MotoGP World Championship. The Japanese manufacturer has signed a leasing arrangement with MotoGP promoter Dorna Sports to supply engines for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Racing teams will be able to lease a Yamaha M1 engine on a per-year basis for their own race bikes. Teams will be free to develop their own chassis or use a chassis from suppliers such as FTR or Suter. Yamaha will not provide any additional engine development on leased engines, so teams will be responsible for their own engine improvements.

Full details including pricing will be released shortly, but interested parties can contact either Dorna or Yamaha for more information. Continue Reading »

Yamaha officially launched its 2013 MotoGP factory team, revealing the new livery for riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi and their YZR-M1 prototypes.

The new livery returns to a predominantly blue design with white elements compared to last year’s design which was more predominantly white. The livery also features a modern interpretation of Yamaha‘s speed block design.

Rossi’s M1 features his iconic #46 in his traditional yellow while Lorenzo’s M1 features a red #99 instead of the #1 he earned as the 2012 MotoGP champion. Lorenzo wore the #1 plate in 2011 after winning the 2010 title. Lorenzo says he was excited to use the #1 plate after winning his first MotoGP title but the following season was not as successful, with his point total dropping from an all-time record of 360 points to 260 in 2011. Lorenzo still finished second that season to Casey Stoner but he says he won two titles with #99 and his fans know him best with that number. Continue Reading »

We’re just over two weeks into the new year which means it’s time for MotoGP teams to start the promotional push for their 2013 MotoGP programs. Ducati is set to reveal its Desmosedici GP13 today at its annual Wrooom ski event with Ferrari‘s Formula One team later today, but Yamaha has gotten the jump on its Italian rival by releasing new photographs and a video of ex-Ducati rider Valentino Rossi and reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo.

Also revealed is the 2013 Yamaha M1, though the racebike is shrouded in graphical overlays of its pilots and devoid of any sponsor logos including the newly signed supporter Monster Energy. So call this more of a teaser than a full reveal. We’ll have to wait just a bit longer to see the 2013 Yamaha M1 in its full race livery.

Until then, enjoy the video and the gallery of still photos. Continue Reading »

Yamaha announced it is developing a new three-cylinder engine using a crossplane crankshaft inherited from the company’s YZR-M1 MotoGP bike and its YZF-R1 sportbike. Yamaha says the new Triple will play an important role in the company’s future.

The Japanese manufacturer unveiled a concept sculpture with the new three-cylinder engine at the 2012 Intermot show in Cologne, Germany. The sculpture is abstract, showing little beyond the engine, wheels and front fork, but the tires and wheels would suggest the first model to use the new engine will be a streetbike.

Yamaha trumpets the benefits of its crossplane crankshaft which has been used in bikes that have won championships in MotoGP, World Superbike and AMA Superbike. Yamaha claims the engine offers linear driving power and more efficient torque output. Yamaha hopes the crossplane crankshaft can work additional wonders as a platform for a new generation of models. Continue Reading »

We reported earlier today Yamaha Motor USA unveiled new colors and graphics for its 2013 YZF-R1 and YZF-R6. Mechanically unchanged from last year’s models, Yamaha‘s two sportbikes each get three color options including a “Team Yamaha” blue and white model.

What Yamaha isn’t offering to its U.S. customers is a new “Race-Blu” livery, introduced today at Misano for the upcoming MotoGP round. Yamaha factory racers Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies will race this weekend wearing the Race-Blu livery on their leathers and on their YZR-M1 racebikes.

The Aldo Drudi-designed two-tone blue and matte gray color will also be offered on European versions of the R1, the R6 and the entry-level YZF-R125. These three models are just the beginning however. Yamaha says the Race-Blu series will be an integral part of Yamaha’s lineup for future model years as well. Continue Reading »

Yamaha has pulled the covers off the 2012 edition of its YZR-M1, the machines which racers Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies will ride to compete in the 2012 MotoGP World Championship.

While last year’s M1 was predominantly blue, the new 1000cc version of the M1 sports more white paint with wide bands of Yamaha blue on the front fairing and along the side, flowing along the line of the seat. Like most MotoGP squads, Yamaha doesn’t want to be too specific about its MotoGP bike’s potential, estimating the power output from the crossplane crankshaft engine at over 240 hp.

The man to beat is defending champion Casey Stoner who dominated the pre-season tests on the Repsol Honda RC213V. Lorenzo and Spies also performed well during testing but they’re still slightly behind the reigning World Champion.

Check out a video released by Yamaha as well as a massive gallery of Lorenzo, Spies, and the 2012 Yamaha M1 after the jump.

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Josh Hayes will make his MotoGP racing debut at the Nov. 6 Valencia Grand Prix in Spain as an injury replacement for fellow American Colin Edwards.

Already set to test the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 M1 after the season-ending race, Hayes was a logical choice to ride in Edwards’ place. Edwards will be sidelined with injuries sustained in the crash at the Sepang round that claimed Marco Simoncelli’s life.

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Two-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes has been invited to test Colin Edwards’ Tech 3 Yamaha YZR-M1 at the MotoGP post-season test.

Tech 3 principal Herve Poncharal told MCN Hayes will get to ride a few laps on the Yamaha M1 Nov. 7 at the end of season test at Spain’s Valencia circuit.

Hayes won the 2010 and 2011 AMA Superbike champion with the Graves Yamaha team, which is sponsored by Monster Energy. The energy drink company also sponsors the Tech 3 MotoGP team, making Hayes’ invitation to the test natural fit.

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Fans of “King” Kenny Roberts will be in for a treat as the three-time World Champion will ride not once, not twice but three times at Laguna Seca during the 2011 U.S. Grand Prix, July 22-24.

As previously announced,  Roberts would join Eddie Lawson and about 200 fans in riding parade laps of the Monterrey, Calif., circuit on the Friday, July 22.

The King will return to the track on Saturday, July 23 to ride a few more laps on the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike in the special 50th Anniversary red livery.

And if that weren’t enough, Roberts will ride again on the raceday Sunday, July 24 on the same Yamaha YZR500 he rode to win the 1980 500cc World Championship.

“I’m really looking forward to it!” said Kenny from his home in northern California, “as this will be the very first time I’ve ridden at the USGP and my 31 year old championship-winning YZR is ready to go!”

The Motorcycle.com team will be there at Laguna Seca for the U.S.G.P. so look forward to reading our report on King Kenny Roberts, the MotoGP race and the other festivities.

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Ride Laguna Seca with King Kenny Roberts and Steady Eddie Lawson

[Source: Yamaha]

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Morning commuters in Barcelona got a little surprise yesterday from Yamaha and Jorge Lorenzo as the reigning MotoGP Champion and his crew re-created their usual race start ritual on a public street in front of the iconic Sagrada Familia.

The roar of Lorenzo’s Yamaha YZR-M1 drew people’s attention as mechanics, data engineers and a lone Brolly Girl emerged. The team then began its pre-race preparation ritual. When the lights on a set of starting lights went out, Lorenzo took off. We’re pretty sure he got the holeshot.

Lorenzo and the Yamaha Factory MotoGP team were in town, of course, for this weekend’s Catalunya Grand Prix. For more on the race, read our preview.

Official release after the jump.

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