New R1 makes a great start for the 2009 Superbike
season at Portimao
5th November 2008
2009 Yamaha WSB riders Ben Spies and Tom Sykes
enjoyed a successful two day test at Portimao
with their new team. The riders used the time
to develop both their relationships with their
new team and also to make a start on the development
of the all-new 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1 race bike.
Day one of testing was spent mostly riding the
2008 WSB machines, giving both riders the opportunity
to learn the highly technical Portimao circuit
which opened for the first time last weekend for
the last round of the 2008 World Superbike Championship.
Day two saw the riders lapping on the all-new
for 2009 Yamaha WSB R1. The new 998cc bike, featuring
a high tech powerplant closely linked to the M1
MOTOGP bike, is currently at the very beginning
of its development for the 2009 WSB season and
is still relatively close to production specifications.
However with the 2009 production R1 crossplane
crankshaft engine and a unique uneven firing order
giving linear torque and greater traction rider
Ben Spies was able to come within two tenths of
the race lap record set by Troy Bayliss during
the inaugural race weekend two days previously.
In a validation of the team’s belief in
the potential of the new bike both riders put
in fast lap times, Ben Spies lapping consistently
in the low 1.44s on the second day.
The Yamaha WSB team now move on to South Africa
for the second test to take the next steps in
the development of the bike.
So far the team’s minor modifications to
the standard bike include a modified cam-shaft,
an enlarged radiator for extra cooling and the
addition of an oil cooler. The new bike has no
rear sub-frame but incorporates a strengthened
frame. The exhaust is unique, and was developed
in partnership with Akrapovic. The standard fuel
tank has also been replaced with an aluminium
tank with increased capacity. The bike features
the latest Magneti Marelli electronic systems.
The new swing arm is also developed purely for
the WSB race bike based on knowledge taken from
the 2008 racing season.
Ben Spies (1’43.9)
“The whole Superbike weekend has been great
for me. Having my own crew chief here from the US
joining the team is good, he really understands me
and it’s great to see him working well with
the Yamaha Motor Italia Technical Chief Silvano Galbusera.
Getting out on Nori’s bike we made a couple
of changes and got going, it answered a lot of questions
for me on the different tyre manufacturer and riding
new circuits. The 2009 bike is at the beginning of
its development, but for where it’s at now compared
to where we will be when we line up at Philip Island
it’s hugely exciting. The team worked really
hard on the bike this weekend and it’s just
going to get better and better. I’m really looking
forward to next year.”
Tom Sykes (1’44.5)
“For me it’s been a very good test.
Having done two days I now feel fully part of the
team. It was quite difficult arriving on Tuesday morning
for the 1st day of the test, facing a new bike, a
new circuit, and a new team. It was important to me
to get it right from the start. We are developing
well together and we have a good understanding. I
was very happy with my time on the 2008 bike, and
happy with a good race pace. For the 2009 bike, considering
it’s at a very early stage of development, I
think it’s a fantastic package. The feeling
coming out of the corner is unbelievably smooth, the
power is so controllable, the whole bike remains incredibly
stable. There is still lots to be done but the outcome
is already very good. All in all it was a great weekend
for me, I was really happy to get started and learning,
getting on with the new team and feeling part of it.”
Yamaha Motor Italia Team Manager Massimo Meregalli
said, “As a first test, I think it went very
well. We didn’t have any problems and both riders
did a very good job. The test gave us a very good
feeling because the bike is very good now and we know
how we can improve it even more, there is still a
big gap to where we can get to, so we are just very
happy. Everything went very well with the riders and
the team, there’s no better way to end a test
for us, we are very excited about the next stage.”
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