Yamaha ready to debut full seamless gearbox at Sepang 2

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo’s long and patient wait for Yamaha to deliver a full seamless shift gearbox looks certain to end next week.

Yamaha’s seamless shift gearbox has only operated on upshifts since it was first introduced at the Misano round back in September 2013.

Ever since that moment, Rossi and Lorenzo have piled pressure on Yamaha to have the seamless transmission work on downshifts too, meaning they don’t have to use the clutch when changing down gears.

Rossi and Lorenzo believe a full seamless shift system will help them combat Honda’s RC213V, which excels in braking stability and corner entry.

Both have always believed Honda’s full seamless gearbox has given double MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez and HRC teammate Dani Pedrosa a key advantage on corner entry.

Yamaha didn’t roll out the full seamless gearbox during the recent opening test session of 2015 at the Sepang track in Malaysia.

But Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis has given a huge hint that the full seamless transmission will be available for Rossi and Lorenzo when winter testing resumes back in Sepang next Monday (February 23).
Speaking to MCN about improvements to the factory YZR-M1 ahead of the season opening night race in Qatar on March 29, Jarvis said: “The seamless downshift system is planned to arrive in the near future. And that will certainly help. It will arrive ASAP.”

Asked by MCN if the ‘near future’ specifically meant Sepang 2, Jarvis added: “I think it should be a realistic scenario. What is important with the gearbox is you can’t afford to make mistakes because you are talking about rider safety. This is something paramount to Yamaha that whatever we bring we are 100% confident with it.”