INSIDER The official Yamaha racing magazine Winter 2006/2007 Issue six A decade of dominance The big YZ four-stroke revolution Onward and upward MotoGp’s technical landscape Art of engineering part2 High tech mudfight Season reviews Relive the 2006 season FieLD OF dreAms All about the new YZF - R and Rossi riding it INSIDER When you’re negotiating your way across INSIDER difficult terrain, the last thing on your mind is getting around the corners. Publisher Welcome to the sixth edition of Insider The new YFM Grizzly 700 features class Yamaha Racing Communications by leading electronic power steering allowing Dear Insider, you to relax and get the job done. Editors Dennis Sol - Let me start by recalling what must be one of the most remarkable per- Nothing will get in your way with the Leon Oosterhof - Yamaha Motor Europe NV Remember multi-capable Yamaha 4WD system that delivers formances in the world of sports, ever. Stefan Everts and Yamaha clinched confidence in both uphill and downhill trails. Design their sixth consecutive Motocross World Championship by winning 14 out corners? Peter Henneman of the 15 MX1 Grand Prix races in the 2006 season. Besides this record So choose the toughest route and enjoy Bas van den Biggelaar performance Stefan holds every other conceivable record in his sport too, it and steer your way to your local Contributors and I’d have to think very hard to come up with another sportsman having Yamaha dealer shop. Gordon Ritchie, Mat Oxley, Paul Taylor, done the same in his field. To commemorate this extraordinary feat we Dennis Sol, Richard Lieberman, Isabella have made sure there is a lot to read about Yamaha’s off road commitment Marcis, Sara Arazola, Hanna Wuttke, Milagro, Matteo Cavadini, Paul Barshon, and the YZ four stroke machines. Jonty Edmunds, Massimo Zanzani, Adam Wheeler, Mario Marini, John de Koning, Yamaha experienced an unfortunate end to the ’06 racing season, as both Valentino Rossi in Gold & Goose, Marieke Kok. MotoGP and Kevin Curtain in World Supersport had to settle for a vice world championship. It was Printing tough for all of us, but at the same time we are very proud too, because Yamaha countered mis- Daneels Nederland, Loon op Zand, fortune and adversity in challenging for these world titles until the last flag dropped and Yamaha The Netherlands Lithography offered the fans lots of excitement on the way. MontBlanc Creative Assistance Group, Amsterdam, The Netherlands By the time you read this, we have left 2006 behind us, and will be well underway with our winter Insider is produced on behalf of Yamaha test programmes for all classes, so you can be sure we will be pumped-up and ready to return to Motor Europe by Yamaha Racing Commu- the track for 2007. In this issue you will read all about the new YZF-R1 and why this machine will nications, a service of p’ZAZ, Hoogte Kadijk 61hs, 1018 BE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. be a title favorite in the hands of Noriyuki Haga and newly signed Troy Corser. Kevin Curtain and Telephone +31 20 62 56 539. his teammate Broc Parkes hold the best cards in world supersport with the fully developed YZF-R6 entering its second year of competition. Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards are currently putting the Reproduction of any text, photograph or illustration in this magazine is prohibited new 800cc YZR-M1 through its paces. We are confident this huge commitment will reap its benefits without permission from the publisher. when the 2007 MotoGP season kicks off. With our new riders Joshua Coppins and Marc de Reuver we While care is taken to ensure that the are confident we can retain our dominance in MX1, while our 2005 MX2 world champion Antonio content of Insider is accurate, the publisher can not accept any liability for errors or Cairoli desperately wants his title back. omissions. I think you will agree there is a lot to look forward to, and I hope you will support us in our quest © 2006 Yamaha Motor Europe NV to secure these 2007 championships. Laurens Klein Koerkamp Department Manager Racing Division - Yamaha Motor Europe NV On the cover: During the first official test of the 2007 season in Jerez, Valentino Rossi entered the track with a new set of stickers on his Yamaha 800 and helmet. As seen on the cover, it refers to King Arthur and his magic sword Excalibur. "I want to show everyone that we are ready to fight back and that we're ready to do our very best throughout www.yamaha-motor-europe.com these winter tests." Rossi explained. INSIDER INSIDE... Pitlane All the latest Field of Dreams 12 news from the world The fifth generation of Yamaha of the no-compromise YZF-R1 is here. Like all its predecessors it sets new standards for the 18 supersport class A decade of dominance Get the full perspective on Yamaha's legacy in 400-450cc four-stroke motocross racing 30 Onward and upward Looking back on the 40 development of the YZR-M1 from 2002 up until testing the 2007 800cc incarnation Race around the 50 world From cup races to the World Super- sport championship, the YZF-R6 contested in competitions all over the world The art of engineer- ing part2 YZ450FM 53 special parts put under a different spotlight: Yamaha engineers create masterpieces of ‘tech art’ 58 Review Relive the 2006 season wih all its ups and downs 70 Standings A statistical round-up of the 2006 season in Yamaha's officially entered race classes Image: Colin Edwards INSIDER INSIDER Sacred moment All fans have seen Valentino Rossi’s rituals before he takes to the track. But few know about his bike graphics rite. Often Vale comes up with new sticker designs which he insists on putting on his M1 himself. PICTURE: MILAGRO 6 INSIDER INSIDER 7 Sunday morning tranquility Yamaha Motor Italy WSB pitbox during Monza race weekend PICTURE: MATTEO CAVADINI INSIDER INSIDER End of an era When Everts signed with Yamaha in 2001, success was on the cards; but nobody expected the start of the greatest partnership Motocross racing has ever seen. Stefan delivered a world title in each of his six seasons on the four stroke YZ with the last season being an emotional roller coaster. With ten world titles and 101 Grand Prix victories behind his name he broke every record in the book, who dares even to challenge these figures? PICTURE: MASSIMO ZANZANI 0 INSIDER INSIDER Pitlane Quick Rossi revs up news CHAD REED got a flying start of the for NZ Rally test 2007 season by winning the opening race of the Amp’d Mobile World Super- cross GP in Toronto on the second of December 2006. The World Supercross GP Championship will be held over 18 races of which 16 will be held in the USA. YAMAHA MotoGP star Valentino Rossi YAMAHA’S WORLD SUPERSPORT will be proved to be almost as impressive on four managed by Yamaha Motor Europe for wheels as he is on two when he competed in INSIDER the 2007 season. The team’s structure November's New Zealand rally. Much to the and location will remain the same. With amazement of the rally community, the Italian ''Something I have dreamed the prominent involvement of Yamaha finished the world championship round 11th in Motor Europe the team can benefit from its vast experience and resources. TEAM his privately entered Subaru. This was the second of all my life'' YAMAHA DE CARLI have signed 2006 time that Rossi had participated in a world EVER DREAMT OF meating one of your commemorate his farewell race. His bike featured FIM Junior Motocross World Champion rally event, and the multiple MotoGP champion favourite Yamaha team riders, or owning a unique 'chequered' design, which highlighted and European Motocross Champion in has not ruled out future rally outings. Indeed, some of their personal riding gear? Visit www. his 100 GP victories; we watched the whole the 80cc class Alessandro Lupino. He on returning from New Zealand, Rossi and co- yamaha-racing.com, where you'll find regular thing from front row seats. The bike was simply competitions offering you the chance to win stunning and Stefan's riding gear was worthy will join current Yamaha riders Antonio driver Carlo Cassina went on to enter and win a very special prize. Just like lucky Belgian of 'the Legend'. It was a beautiful tribute to the Cairoli and Matteo Bonini in the MX2-GP the non championship Monza rally. Despite his motocross fan Chris Debusschere, who won a VIP best Everts! class. JAMES ELLSION HAS left the Tech3 four-wheeled hobby, Valentino has committed trip to attend Stefan Everts' final GP of 2006. Following the press conference, we had our Yamaha Team and will compete in the his future to MotoGP and remains focused on Read his story here: picture taken with Stefan, and it came out AMA Superbike Championship. James will reclaiming the crown in 2007. "The first thing I would like to do is express really well. join the factory supported Honda Corona is my gratitude to Yamaha for giving me the At 12.15, we were invited to lunch in the VIP tent Team. 2006 YMIT WSB rider Andrew Pitt opportunity to be present on such a special day! the race organizers, Youthstream; there was a great will join the ILMOR SRT team for the Thank you very much indeed!! choice of food and plenty of drinks were on hand. 2007 MotoGP season. Pitt – who attended De Reuver makes promising Yamaha debut It was fantastic to have my wife and Following the meal, the real action began with the MotoGP circus from 2002 to 2004 two children with me during what was an the racing! With two hole shots and two dominant – will ride alongside former Yamaha GP unforgettable family day.