Is there a new 2023 Yamaha R1 in the making?
The bees at the Yamaha hive have been busy, so it seems. It looks like the brand will present a brand new 2023 R1 next year. Exciting? Heck yes! The current YZR-R1 was introduced in 2015 and has been doing its duty ever since. So an update is long overdue.
The current Yamaha R1 has been produced since 2015. In the meantime – in 2020 – the YFZ-R1 was updated just enough to pass the Euro 5 regulations. In 2023, it would be in production for 8 years. With the fast changing technology all around us, it would be lovely to see Yamaha redesign this speed demon.
A NEW 2023 YAMAHA R1
ACCORDING TO THE RUMORS
And it seems like they have been doing just that. There is a new 2023 Yamaha YZR1000W to be found in a spreadsheet document on the website of the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme). There is a Yamaha YZF600W already, which is a track only R6. So basically an R6 that is only allowed to ride on track.
NEWLY HOMOLOGATED YAMAHA R1
DIFFERENCE IN FRAME MARKING
So the suspicion arises that Yamaha will present a new 2023 R1 only for racers, or lost souls like us who just love to ride on track (and don’t actually ‘ race’). The noted frame marking in the document of the FIM is different than the frame marking of the current Yamaha R1. This strongly suggests that we are talking about a whole new model. By registering this new model with the FIM, Yamaha homologates the new R1 model for the season of 2023.
HOMOLOGATION
IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING
To homologate a motorcycle does not always mean the brand will present a whole new bike. Some brands homologate a ‘new’ model every year. In this case, the bike underwent small changes and no real big design update. But the changes are significant enough to be useful for the tuners of the racing teams. Yamaha hasn’t used this method yet, so that’s why it stands out.
CONCLUSION
No official press release from Yamaha has been made public yet, so until then we will wait patiently and dream about all the possibilities. One thing is certain; the idea of a brand new 2023 Yamaha R1 only for riding on track is something that makes us very happy. Rather ride a 2023 Yamaha R1 on the roads? Chances are that a road legal version will follow as well.
