Photo: yamaha-racing.com
Yamaha’s new generation YZF-R1 machines are so much more than just another iteration of Iwata’s superbike - they also bear the hopes for greater glory on the tracks around the world, as Yamaha is planning to make a return to the World Superbike series in 2016.
However, it looks like Yamaha will also choose to rely on a privately-owned racing team as support for WSBK, following in the steps of pretty much all the bike manufacturers who are currently fielding bikes in the Superbike series. Honda has Ten Kate, Kawasaki works with Provec, Crescent is Suzuki’s racing outfit, while BMW partnered with Italian importer BMW Motorrad Italia and Aprilia has its RSV4 raced by the Red Devils.
Basically, the WSBK series are dealing with much smaller amounts of money the sport can attract while expenses are pretty high, though nowhere near those of the premier class. Still, manufacturers have found the best way to deal with the situation, and supporting racing teams seems to be the winning solution. The costs of racing are shared between the manufacturer and the team, and this makes things easier for both of them.
However, Dosoli mentioned some of the top candidates with the best chances of making a move into the World Superbike. The names of Milwaukee Yamaha was mentioned for the good results in the British Superbike series, but Christophe Guyot’s GMT 64 team also appeared. GMT 94 is taking things very seriously in the Endurance World Championship and we have just showed their awesome 2015 YZF-R1 bikes.
It looks like the new R1 platform is expected to make WSBK a more interesting game once the Yamaha team is ready to roll. And if they also start winning, something tells us that more people will want to get a new R1…
Factory-supported teams are the most lucrative recipe for WSBK racing
Even though in the MotoGP a full-factory team is the ultimate goal for both manufacturers and riders, things are much different in the World Superbike. Everything is motivated by the amount of money on the move in the series, regardless of whether we are considering subsidies, Dorna TV rights and national organizers, or… sponsors.Basically, the WSBK series are dealing with much smaller amounts of money the sport can attract while expenses are pretty high, though nowhere near those of the premier class. Still, manufacturers have found the best way to deal with the situation, and supporting racing teams seems to be the winning solution. The costs of racing are shared between the manufacturer and the team, and this makes things easier for both of them.
No decision on the team has been made yet
Andrea Dosoli, Yamaha’s European road racing boss (excluding GP racing) told MCN that the semi-factory effort is most likely the best alternative to a full-factory outfit, but could not indicate a name for the team which would carry the new Iwata machines to the track in 2016.However, Dosoli mentioned some of the top candidates with the best chances of making a move into the World Superbike. The names of Milwaukee Yamaha was mentioned for the good results in the British Superbike series, but Christophe Guyot’s GMT 64 team also appeared. GMT 94 is taking things very seriously in the Endurance World Championship and we have just showed their awesome 2015 YZF-R1 bikes.
It looks like the new R1 platform is expected to make WSBK a more interesting game once the Yamaha team is ready to roll. And if they also start winning, something tells us that more people will want to get a new R1…
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