The Yamaha R1 has proved itself on and off the track, with Yamaha, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team claiming the WorldSBK triple crown of rider, team and manufacturer titles in 2021.
The same R1 claimed victory in the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race alongside the British and American Superbike Championship titles during the first year of its triumphant return to motorsports in 2015.
The R1 has since gone on to make it four consecutive victories at Suzuka (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), plus also won the 2016/2017 FIM Endurance World Championship in the hands of the GMT94 Yamaha Official EWC Team. In 2018 the R1 secured three race wins in the FIM Superbike World Championship, with Michael van der Mark adding a fourth victory in 2019 when he took the race win in Jerez. In 2020, van der Mark and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu added four further victories to the Yamaha R1's winning tally, and Estoril featured the first-ever Yamaha 1-2-3, with Garrett Gerloff joining the two Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team riders on the podium.
2021 saw Toprak Razgatlıoğlu crowned as FIM Superbike World Champion, having secured 13 race wins, 29 podiums and three pole positions in what was hailed as the most exciting WorldSBK season in years. The Pata Yamaha Team took the team title and Yamaha the manufacturer title, making it a clean sweep for the Iwata brand.
The 2022 season was equally exciting but, despite surpassing his record of 2021 by taking 14 race wins, Razgatlıoğlu and his R1 had to settle for the runner up spot in the championship standings.
Replicating the production motorcycle, the WorldSBK-Spec R1 is adapted for World Championship competition by removing road-safety aspects such as headlights and wing-mirrors, replacing bodywork with racing items and allowing modifications to engine management, exhaust systems, suspension, brakes and a number of engine parts.
Current regulations stipulate the bike must weigh a minimum of 168kg, while the tuning of race machines is now subject to more limitations than in previous years due to the restriction of technical modifications.
Now in their eighth year back in the FIM Superbike World Championship, Yamaha has been showing the competition what makes them one of the most well-respected and timeless names in motorsport.
Specifications
Engine type: Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, forward-inclined parallel 4-cylinder, 4-valves
Displacement: 998cc
Bore and Stroke: 79.0mm x 50.9mm
Maximum power: over 220 P.S.
Lubrication system: Wet sump
Clutch type: Wet, Multiple Disc
Fuel system: Fuel Injection
Ignition system: Marelli MLE
Starter system: Electric
Transmission system: Constant Mesh, 6-speed
Final transmission: Chain
Chassis
Frame: Aluminium Deltabox
Front suspension system: Ohlins Ø 46 mm
Front travel: 130 mm
Caster angle: 24º (+/- 1º)
Rear suspension system: Swingarm, (link suspension)
Rear travel: 120 mm
Front brake: Hydraulic dual disc, Ø 336mm Brembo
Rear brake: Hydraulic single disc, Ø 218 mm Brembo
Front tyre: 120/70 17” Pirelli
Rear tyre: 200/50 17” Pirelli
Dimensions
Overall length: 2,055 mm
Overall width: 690 mm
Overall height: 1,150 mm
Seat height: 855 mm
Wheel base: 1,450 mm (+/- 15)
Minimum ground clearance: 130 mm
Dry weight: 164 kg
Wet weight: 168 kg
Fuel tank capacity: 24 litres
Oil tank capacity: 3.9 litres