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Yamaha YZR-M1

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Yamaha YZR-M1 (2002–present)
CategoryMotoGP
ConstructorYamaha
PredecessorYamaha YZR500
Technical specifications
ChassisTwin-tube aluminium delta box frame, multi-adjustable steering geometry, wheelbase, ride height, with aluminium swingarm
Suspension (front)Fully adjustable Öhlins inverted telescopic forks
Suspension (rear)Braced aluminium swingarm with single Öhlins shock and rising-rate linkage
Length2,060 mm (81 in)
Width650 mm (26 in)
Height1,150 mm (45 in) measured from identical reference plane
Wheelbase1,450 mm (57 in)
EngineYamaha 1,000 cc (1.0 L; 61.0 cu in) Inline-4, 16-valve, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, Crossplane crankshaft, naturally aspirated (no Turbocharger),
Transmission6-speed sequential manual cassette type
Weight157 kg (346 lb) excluding rider
200 kg (441 lb) including rider
FuelENEOS
LubricantsYamalube
TyresBridgestone Battlax
Competition history
Notable entrantsItaly/Japan Yamaha Factory Racing
France Yamaha Tech 3
Japan YSP Racing Team
Debut2002 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix
RacesWins
20778
Constructors' Championships6

The Yamaha YZR-M1 is a four stroke motorcycle specifically developed by Yamaha Motor Company to race in the current MotoGP series.[1] It succeeded the 500 cc (31 cu in) YZR500 by the 2002 season and was originally developed with a 990 cc (60 cu in) engine. Since then, the YZR-M1 has been continuously developed into several iterations through the 990cc, 800cc and 1000cc eras of Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing.

2002–2003

2002 was the first season which allowed 990 cc 4-strokes to be raced alongside 500 cc 2-strokes. In a change from their V-4 YZR500, Yamaha designed the YZR-M1 (for "Mission One") with an inline-4 engine, in order to have a longer swingarm and shorter wheelbase. Also, Yamaha wanted to preserve the superior handling of the YZR500, so the M1's engine was designed to fit in a chassis similar to the YZR500's. The M1 was outfitted with an electronic engine management system that controlled the engine braking endemic to 4-strokes.[1][2]

The M1 was test-ridden and developed by Max Biaggi, John Kocinski, Norihiko Fujiwara and Kyoji Namba throughout 2001. It was raced in the 2002 season by Biaggi and Carlos Checa on the factory team, and towards the end of the season M1s were also provided to Norifumi Abe, Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano. In 2003, the engine went from carburetion to fuel injection, and the Engine Management System was changed to the Idle Control System.[3]

Biaggi achieved 2 wins in 2002, and placed second in the final standings as did Yamaha in the manufacturer's championship. In 2003, M1 riders were Checa, Alex Barros, Olivier Jacque, Marco Melandri, Shinya Nakano and Norifumi Abe, and there were no wins and Yamaha came in third in the manufacturer's championship.

2004/2005

Valentino Rossi signed a two-year contract with Yamaha, reportedly worth in excess of US$6 million per season, in a move that was described by the press as "biting off more than he could chew". It was widely felt not only by his critics and media pundits, but also by many fans, that even he would not be able to bring the struggling YZR-M1 up to the level of the hereto all conquering Honda RC211V. A well publicised increase in the pace of development of the Honda machine over the winter season fuelled expectation that a Honda RC211V in the hands of riders the calibre of Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau would have no problem in retaining the World Title for Honda.

Meanwhile, Rossi wasn't the only defection Honda had to contend with; Jeremy Burgess (crew chief for Rossi at Honda), along with the majority of his long established crew, were convinced by Rossi to join him at Yamaha. This was a shrewd move, and was cited by Rossi in his autobiography as being instrumental in providing him with the strong basis necessary for launching an attack on the Championship with the YZR-M1.

During 2003/2004 winter testing, Yamaha stepped up to the plate by pulling out all the stops in their collaboration with Rossi and Burgess. Through a systematic regime of innovation and testing, they sought to refine the M1's traditionally strong traits such as good braking and quick handling (which impressed Rossi), and marry them with good balance and transition to power. Working closely with Rossi and Burgess, Yamaha engineers under YZR-M1 project leader Koichi Tsuji experimented with a number of engine modifications in an attempt to fix the power delivery, and finally it was decided to go ahead with a four valve per cylinder head configuration (as opposed to the earlier five valve head), with a specially refined cylinder firing order. This turned the straight four cylinder engine from a traditional "screamer", where the power pulses are spaced equally (every 180 crank degrees) in the four stroke cycle, into a so-called "long bang" engine where the power pulses are grouped unevenly across the cycle (270-180-90-180). This firing order mimics the constant kinetic energy of a V4 engine while maintaining the desirable engine packaging of a traditional inline four cylinder. These developments significantly improved the torque characteristics of the engine, and coupled with slight changes to the position of the engine in the chassis, made the M1 much easier to control at the limit of adhesion while exiting corners. After a frantic winter of development and testing, the team showed the world that they had made a significant step in the right direction, when Rossi and the M1 won the BMW car at the 2004 pre season IRTA test at Catalunya, by posting the fastest lap of the open session (similar to normal race qualifying).

With the traditional first race of the season at Suzuka off the list due to safety considerations, the 2004 season started at Welkom in South Africa. In a quite remarkable race, Rossi came through to claim the victory, not only silencing his critics, but becoming the first man in history to win two GPs back to back with two different manufacturers. Rossi would go on to claim 8 more GP wins on his way to win the 2004 Championship, with a tally of 304 points. Honda riders Sete Gibernau and Max Biaggi took second and third with 257 and 217 points respectively.

The 2004 season would therefore unfold to give Rossi the opportunity he had sought; to prove that it was his talent rather than just the bike that had won him his championships. In so doing, he also achieved one of the great coups in the history of Motorcycle Racing.

The YZR-M1 and Rossi partnership continued to dominate in 2005, when the Championship was won by a massive 147 point margin over Honda rider Marco Melandri in second place.The 2005 M1 was hailed by insiders to be a great race bike, it illustrated that Yamaha with input from Rossi had created a race bike to beat the others quite easily. Rossi would go on later to say that the 2005 M1 was the greatest bike he has ever ridden.

2006

Valentino Rossi's 2006 Yamaha YZR-M1

The 2006 season proved a little more problematic for Yamaha, with the M1 suffering from chatter from the very first race of the year. It would be a recurring problem for all Yamaha riders in the first third of the season, and was thought to be a function of three major winter season developments; namely a significant hike in engine power, a new stiffer chassis and a new construction of Michelin tyre with an even stickier compound and revised profile. Because all three developments occurred almost simultaneously, the usual meticulous testing of one development at a time was compromised and it would take much of the early season to understand and overcome the problems.

This setback for Yamaha and the YZR-M1 was largely responsible for Valentino Rossi's mediocre season start in 2006, manifest by poor qualifying performances and a brace of bad luck, he also suffered a wrist injury mid season, which added to his woes. In the final third of a memorable season, the M1's problems were virtually eradicated, and Valentino Rossi turned in a string of performances that would close down a large points gap on Championship leader Nicky Hayden aboard the Honda RC211V. It was only in the final race of the season that the M1 and Valentino Rossi were beaten by just five points and Yamaha relinquished the Championship back to Honda in the hands of Nicky Hayden, who only won two races that season. Hayden would later state that Rossi deserved to be champion, but luck and DNF'S cost him the championship. Valentino Rossi would win 5 races in 2006 to Nicky Hayden's 2, a fact that was well played during the off season.

2007

Regulations again changed for the 2007 season with the capacity of MotoGP machines reduced to 800 cc in an effort by the FIM to reduce the ever increasing speeds of the 990 cc bikes (capable of well in excess of 210 mph (340 km/h)); therefore the YZR-M1 would continue in 2007 in 800 cc form. In post-2006 and in 2007 pre-season testing, the new 800 cc equipped YZR-M1 (along with other 800 cc MotoGP bikes) has been paradoxically quicker straight out of the box than the 990 cc version of the M1. This is by virtue of later, harder braking, quicker handling, higher corner speeds, and more controllable traction, and as the 2007 season got under way, the 800 cc YZR-M1 was expected to get quicker as its development continued.

The chatter that plagued the early 2006 YZR-M1 has been eliminated in the switch to 800 cc.[4] While the Main sponsor for the Official Factory Yamaha Team has switched from Camel with their distinctive yellow and blue livery, to that of The Italian Motor Manufacturer Fiat. The team will run initially in a blue and white colour scheme and has hinted at the unusual intention of running a variety of colour schemes throughout the season.

Casey Stoner won the 2007 Championship with the factory Ducati.

2008

The 2008 YZR-M1 was regarded as the best all round bike in MotoGP. Rossi won the 2008 Championship by a record margin and dominated podium finishes all season. Team mate Jorge Lorenzo managed a first ever Rookie win on the M1 at the Portuguese GP and had 6 podium finishes. Many along with Rossi have said that the YZR-M1 was the best bike of 2008 season, something that was well proven during the heated battles Rossi had with Casey Stoner on the Ducati.

Successes

6 World Championships won:
Valentino Rossi in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009
Jorge Lorenzo in 2010 and 2012

94 races won:
2002 Biaggi 2
2004 Rossi 9
2005 Rossi 11
2006 Rossi 5
2007 Rossi 4
2008 Rossi 9, Lorenzo 1
2009 Rossi 6, Lorenzo 4
2010 Lorenzo 9, Rossi 2
2011 Lorenzo 3, Spies 1
2012 Lorenzo 6
2013 Lorenzo 8, Rossi 1
2014 Rossi 2, Lorenzo 2
2015 Lorenzo 6, Rossi 4*

  • * Season in progress.

Specifications

Yamaha YZR-M1 (2013) Specifications
Engine
Engine type: Liquid-cooled, in-line, 4-cylinder, 4-stroke with 16-valve DOHC crossplane crankshaft (fires at 180° flat-plane crank).
Displacement: 1,000 cc (1.0 L; 61.0 cu in)
Ignition: Magneti Marelli with adjustable mapping – NGK spark plugs
Fuel System: Fuel injection
Lubrication system: Wet sump – ENEOS Oil
Data recording: 2D
Maximum power: Around 245 hp (183 kW)
Maximum speed: In excess of 340 km/h (211 mph)
Exhaust: Akrapovič
Transmission
Type: 6-speed cassette-type gearbox, with alternative gear ratios available
Primary drive: Gear
Clutch: Dry multi-plate slipper clutch
Final drive: Chain
Chassis and running gear
Frame type: Twin-tube aluminium delta box frame, multi-adjustable steering geometry, wheelbase, ride height, with aluminium swingarm
Front suspension: Fully adjustable Öhlins inverted telescopic forks
Rear suspension: Braced aluminium swingarm with single Öhlins shock and rising-rate linkage
Front/rear wheels: 16.5 inch front, 16.5 inch rear, available in a variety of rim widths
Front/rear tyres: Bridgestone slicks, intermediates, wets or hand-cut tyres. 16.5 inch front, 16.5 inch rear
Front brake: Twin 320 mm carbon discs with radial mounted four-piston Brembo calipers
Rear brake: Single 220 mm ventilated stainless steel disc with twin-piston Brembo caliper
Weight: Minimum 157 kg (346 lb) exluding rider, 200 kg (441 lb) including rider, in accordance with FIM regulations
Fuel capacity: 21 L (6 US gal; 5 imp gal), in accordance with FIM regulations

Complete MotoGP results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Tyres Team No. Rider 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Points RC
2002 M JPN RSA SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GBR GER CZE POR RIO PAC MAL AUS VAL
Marlboro Yamaha Team 3 Max Biaggi Ret 9 DSQ 3 2 4 4 2 2 1 6 2 Ret 1 6 3 215 2nd
7 Carlos Checa 3 5 Ret Ret 4 3 3 Ret 4 5 2 Ret 5 7 11 Ret 141 5th
Antena 3 Yamaha d'Antin 6 Norifumi Abe DNS 10 6 (129)[a] 6th
Gauloises Yamaha Tech 3 19 Olivier Jacque Ret 8 9 15 (81)[a] 10th
56 Shinya Nakano 6 13 6 23 (68)[a] 11th
2003 M JPN RSA SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GBR GER CZE POR RIO PAC MAL AUS VAL
Gauloises Yamaha Team 4 Alex Barros 8 5 5 3 Ret 8 8 DNS Ret 7 11 12 6 15 Ret 6 101 9th
19 Olivier Jacque 15 10 10 4 10 Ret 5 Ret 9 11 13 Ret 13 DNS 6 Ret 71 12th
Fortuna Yamaha Team 7 Carlos Checa 10 9 Ret Ret 8 4 4 6 8 4 8 9 Ret 5 8 5 123 7th
33 Marco Melandri WD 17 15 11 13 Ret Ret Ret 10 7 11 5 11 Ret 45 15th
17 Norifumi Abe 11 8 9 31 16th
Yamaha Racing Team 11 10
d'Antin Yamaha Team 56 Shinya Nakano 9 11 8 14 5 5 13 9 7 14 12 8 9 8 7 Ret 101 10th
2004 M RSA SPA FRA ITA CAT NED RIO GER GBR CZE POR JPN QAT MAL AUS VAL
Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha 7 Carlos Checa 10 6 2 Ret 4 9 10 Ret 6 6 5 7 Ret 9 10 4 117 7th
46 Valentino Rossi 1 4 4 1 1 1 Ret 4 1 2 1 2 Ret 1 1 1 304 1st
Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 17 Norifumi Abe 9 11 Ret 7 9 11 8 Ret Ret 8 10 Ret 7 12 17 10 74 13th
33 Marco Melandri 11 Ret 6 9 3 3 13 Ret 9 Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret Ret 75 12th
2005 M SPA POR CHN FRA ITA CAT NED USA GBR GER CZE JPN MAL QAT AUS TUR VAL
Gauloises Yamaha Team[b] 5 Colin Edwards 9 6 8 3 9 7 3 2 4 8 7 6 10 4 6 7 8 179 4th
46 Valentino Rossi 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 Ret 2 1 1 2 3 367 1st
Fortuna Yamaha Team 11 Rubén Xaus 18 10 10 12 14 10 12 11 Ret 13 18 10 15 14 12 14 15 52 16th
24 Toni Elías 12 14 14 9 13 9 12 14 9 11 8 9 6 10 74 12th
94 David Checa 19 13 15 4 26th
2006 SPA QAT TUR CHN FRA ITA CAT NED GBR GER USA CZE MAL AUS JPN POR VAL
M Camel Yamaha Team 5 Colin Edwards 11 9 9 3 6 12 5 13 6 12 9 10 10 Ret 8 4 9 124 7th
46 Valentino Rossi 14 1 4 Ret Ret 1 1 8 2 1 Ret 2 1 3 2 2 13 247 2nd
D Tech 3 Yamaha 7 Carlos Checa 13 12 15 14 11 15 8 9 10 9 7 15 12 Ret 14 7 10 75 15th
77 James Ellison 16 13 18 16 14 16 9 Ret 14 13 13 17 16 16 15 13 14 26 18th
2007 QAT SPA TUR CHN FRA ITA CAT GBR NED GER USA CZE RSM POR JPN AUS MAL VAL
M Fiat Yamaha Team 5 Colin Edwards 6 3 Ret 11 12 12 10 2 6 4 11 Ret 9 10 14 9 10 13 124 9th
46 Valentino Rossi 2 1 10 2 6 1 2 4 1 Ret 4 7 Ret 1 13 3 5 Ret 241 3rd
D Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 6 Makoto Tamada 16 14 14 Ret 9 15 12 15 13 13 8 17 14 Ret 12 16 18 15 38 18th
50 Sylvain Guintoli 15 15 15 13 10 14 14 16 14 Ret 13 13 12 14 4 14 19 11 50 16th
2008 QAT ESP POR CHN FRA ITA CAT GBR NED GER USA CZE RSM IND JPN AUS MAL VAL
M Tech 3 Yamaha 5 Colin Edwards 7 Ret 4 7 3 5 5 4 3 Ret 14 14 10 15 7 8 8 6 144 7th
52 James Toseland 6 6 7 12 Ret 6 6 17 9 11 9 13 6 18 11 6 Ret 11 105 11th
B Fiat Yamaha Team 46 Valentino Rossi 5 2 3 1 1 1 2 2 11 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 373 1st
M 48 Jorge Lorenzo 2 3 1 4 2 Ret 6 6 Ret Ret 10 2 3 4 4 Ret 8 190 4th
2009 B QAT JPN SPA FRA ITA CAT NED USA GER GBR CZE IND RSM POR AUS MAL VAL
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 5 Colin Edwards 4 12 7 7 6 7 4 7 9 2 7 5 Ret 5 5 13 4 161 5th
52 James Toseland 16 9 13 9 7 13 6 DSQ 10 6 9 6 10 9 14 15 12 92 14th
Sterilgarda Yamaha Team 11 Ben Spies 7 9 20th
Fiat Yamaha Team 46 Valentino Rossi 2 2 1 16 3 1 1 2 1 5 1 Ret 1 4 2 3 2 306 1st
99 Jorge Lorenzo 3 1 Ret 1 2 2 2 3 2 Ret Ret 1 2 1 Ret 4 3 261 2nd
2010 B QAT ESP FRA ITA GBR NED CAT GER USA CZE IND RSM ARA JPN MAL AUS POR VAL
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 5 Colin Edwards 8 12 12 13 9 8 11 Ret 7 7 Ret 7 12 5 NC 7 7 12 103 11th
11 Ben Spies 5 Ret Ret 7 3 4 6 8 6 4 2 6 5 8 4 5 DNS 4 176 6th
Fiat Yamaha Team 8 Wataru Yoshikawa 15 1 22nd
46 Valentino Rossi 1 3 2 DNS 4 3 5 4 3 6 3 1 3 2 3 233 3rd
99 Jorge Lorenzo 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 2 4 4 3 2 1 1 383 1st
2011 B QAT ESP POR FRA CAT GBR NED ITA GER USA CZE IND RSM ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL
Yamaha Factory Racing 1 Jorge Lorenzo 2 1 2 4 2 Ret 6 1 2 2 4 4 1 3 2 DNS 260 2nd
11 Ben Spies 6 Ret Ret 6 3 Ret 1 4 5 4 5 3 6 5 6 DNS C 2 176 5th
89 Katsuyuki Nakasuga C 6 10 18th
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 5 Colin Edwards 8 Ret 6 13 DNS 3 7 9 10 8 8 7 13 13 8 5 C 109 9th
35 Cal Crutchlow 11 8 8 Ret 7 DNS 14 Ret 14 Ret Ret 11 10 9 11 Ret C 4 70 12th
41 Josh Hayes 7 9 19th
2012 B QAT ESP POR FRA CAT GBR NED GER ITA USA IND CZE RSM ARA JPN MAL AUS VAL
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 4 Andrea Dovizioso 5 5 4 7 3 19 3 3 3 4 3 4 4 3 4 13 4 6 218 4th
35 Cal Crutchlow 4 4 5 8 5 6 5 8 6 5 Ret 3 Ret 4 Ret Ret 3 Ret 151 7th
Yamaha Factory Racing 11 Ben Spies 11 11 8 16 10 5 4 4 11 Ret Ret Ret 5 5 Ret Ret 88 10th
99 Jorge Lorenzo 1 2 2 1 1 1 Ret 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 Ret 350 1st
21 Katsuyuki Nakasuga 2 27 18th
Yamaha YSP Racing Team 9
2013 B QAT AME ESP FRA ITA CAT NED GER USA IND CZE GBR RSM ARA MAL AUS JPN VAL
Yamaha YSP Racing Team 21 Katsuyuki Nakasuga 11 5 22nd
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 35 Cal Crutchlow 5 4 5 2 3 Ret 3 2 7 5 17 7 6 6 6 4 7 Ret 188 5th
38 Bradley Smith Ret 12 10 9 9 6 9 6 Ret 8 Ret 9 11 7 7 6 8 7 116 10th
Yamaha Factory Racing 46 Valentino Rossi 2 6 4 12 Ret 4 1 3 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 6 4 237 4th
99 Jorge Lorenzo 1 3 3 7 1 1 5 DNS 6 3 3 1 1 2 3 1 1 1 330 2nd
2014 B QAT AME ARG ESP FRA ITA CAT NED GER IND CZE GBR RSM ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL
YAMALUBE Racing Team with YSP 21 Katsuyuki Nakasuga 12 4 26th
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 38 Bradley Smith Ret 5 7 8 10 Ret 10 8 19 6 9 22 7 5 9 3 5 14 121 8th
44 Pol Espargaró Ret 6 8 9 4 5 7 Ret 7 5 Ret 6 6 6 8 Ret 6 6 136 6th
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 46 Valentino Rossi 2 8 4 2 2 3 2 5 4 3 3 3 1 Ret 3 1 2 2 295 2nd
99 Jorge Lorenzo Ret 10 3 4 6 2 4 13 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 3 Ret 263 3rd
2015 B QAT AME ARG SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER IND CZE GBR RSM ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 38 Bradley Smith 8 6 6 8 6 5 5 7 6 6 7 7 2 8 143* 5th*
44 Pol Espargaró 9 Ret 8 5 7 6 Ret 5 8 7 8 Ret Ret 7 88* 9th*
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 46 Valentino Rossi 1 3 1 3 2 3 2 1 3 3 3 1 5 3 263* 1st*
99 Jorge Lorenzo 4 4 5 1 1 1 1 3 4 2 1 4 Ret 1 249* 2nd*
  • * Season in progress.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Non-bracketed number refers to the number accumulated with the motorcycle, with number in brackets referring to the total accumulated for the season.
  2. ^ Due to tobacco advertising, the team was known as Yamaha Factory Racing at the United States and Valencian Grands Prix.

References

  1. ^ a b "History of 990cc". Yamaha Racing. Yamaha Motor Company. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  2. ^ "Mission One: Introducing Yamaha's awesome YZR-M1". Crash.net. 2001-05-14. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  3. ^ "Evolution of the YZR-M1 – part one". Crash.net. 2006-11-19. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  4. ^ Birt, M.: Yamaha chatter finished motorcyclenews.com, 2007-02-21.
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