Yamaha Motor Europe has teamed up with Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART) and Petronas to create a new limited-edition, track-only version of the YZF-R1 that apes the look of the Petronas Yamaha MotoGP bikes ridden by Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli this year.
Despite the fact that the Petronas Yamaha riders are currently showing the works team how it’s done in MotoGP there are plenty of clues that it’s the prospect of having Valentino Rossi’s legendary ‘46’ plastered on the front of next year’s Petronas machine that’s really sparked the project. It’s said to be celebrating the 46th anniversary of Petronas, 46 of the bikes are due to be made and the price in Europe is €46,000 (about AU $76,000).
Spec-wise, the bikes are dripping with top-end kit. A carbon-fibre race fairing complete with MotoGP-style winglets and the Petronas livery sits atop a machine with full Ohlins suspension – FGRT 2 road and track forks, a TTX shock and a race steering damper – and a factory kit exhaust. A quick-change rear wheel system is added to make tyre swaps faster, the footpegs are replaced with race versions and a quick-action throttle controls an engine equipped with a racing ECU.
Brembo GP4-RX calipers and T-Drive discs deal with the stopping, mounted on Marchesini wheels with Michelin racing slicks. There’s no word yet whether there’s any headed our way but buyers will also get a matching KYT helmet, a Petronas polo shirt and a future VIP pass for the MotoGP round of their choice.
Mandy Kainz: Owner, YART GYTR Yamaha Pro Shop
“We are delighted to be introducing this exclusive PETRONAS Yamaha SRT MotoGP replica, which includes a variety of upgrades to bring near MotoGP performance to our customers. It’s a timely launch, as it coincides with the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the Yamaha Austria Racing Team and the opening of our new GYTR Pro Shop. Everyone at PETRONAS Yamaha SRT, YART and all of our partners have done a fantastic job putting this project together and I’d like to thank everyone involved in producing what is, without question, a magnificent bike.”
Razlan Razali, Team Principal, PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team
“We are extremely excited about this project which highlights our success as a team as the first satellite Yamaha squad to score a MotoGP victory in over 20 years. I am sure the lucky owners of this bike will be extremely satisfied with not only having a great track day powerful machine but be part of our building for a success story in MotoGP by owning this limited edition livery. The YART GYTR Pro Shop is a fabulous facility and the quality of the upgrades is reflective of the high performance expected from an M1 replica .”
