First look: New R1 race bike breaks cover

The new Yamaha R1 has finally broken cover in race bike trim, with the MCE British Superbike Milwaukee Yamaha being unveiled alongside the German IDM championship and World Endurance teams in a presentation at the Japanese manufacturer’s European race HQ.

Both Josh Brookes and Broc Parkes were in attendance to get their first looks at their new bikes after spending the winter in Australia.

The ceremony also announced a new structure for Yamaha’s European racing operations, with Andrea Dosoli returning to Yamaha as Road Racing Project Manager. He is believed to be tasked with developing the new R1 in preparation of a return to World SBK in 2016.

Yamaha Motor Europe Operations Director Eric De Seynes commented: “We head into the 2015 race season with an incredible sense of anticipation and excitement. We have full trust in our new internal structure and in the job it will do together with our racing partners, who represent a comprehensive family of highly professional teams and motivated riders to complement the class leading motorcycles launched in 2015. We have very high expectations for the revolutionary YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M and we are confident we have the right ingredients to be key protagonists on every racetrack we compete on. We are impatient for the season to begin!”