GP bike reveals clues to new R1

YAMAHA’S new four-stroke GP bike has been spotted in tests in Australia. And that gives a tantalising glimpse of some of the technology that could feature on next year’s expected replacement for the R1.

Little is known about the new machine – which will be launched in September this year – it is likely to share a family resemblance and technical innovations with the four-stroke GP racer which will officially debut when the new race regs are implemented in 2002.

Yamaha has already confirmed its GP bike, codenamed OW-M1 will have an in-line four-cylinder engine andfive valves per cylinder – like the R1.

Yamaha UK’s Dan Harris said: ” Any four-stroke racing initiative will inevitably have implications for road bike design. The regulations basically say you can’t use any production parts on the racer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use technology that’s successful on the track on future road bikes. ”