INSIDERThe official Yamaha racing magazine Winter 2005/2006 Issue four Nitro Nori The cult of Haga YZR-M1 Ahead of the pack Riders’ psychology Into the zone R6: Supersport revolution INSIDER 2 INSIDER Welcome to the fourth edition of Insider. Publisher What a great way to celebrate Yamaha’s 50th anniversary year. As you certainly Yamaha Racing Communications by know, 2005 was a sensational year for Yamaha on the race track with Valentino Rossi putting in a thoroughly dominant display in MotoGP to take his seventh Editor world crown and help Yamaha towards the team and manufacturer’s titles. Paul Taylor Yamahas also proved to be the bikes to beat in motocross, with Stefan Everts Creative director winning his ninth world title in the premier MX1 class and young Antonio Tom Jacobs Cairoli coming out on top in MX2. We also saw Yamaha return to the Superbike Design/production World Championship in 2005, with Noriyuki Haga putting in some great per- Peter Henneman formances to win two races and finish third on his YZF-R1. Contributors I was also proud to see two youngsters win high profile titles on Yamahas. Bas van den Biggelaar, Graeme Brown, Didier van Keymeulen won the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup riding a YZF-R1 and Claudio Corti won the Mike van Cleven, Gary Freeman, Milagro, Mat Oxley, Pixelpony, Gordon Ritchie, European Superstock 600 Championship on a YZF-R6. Not only was it satisfying to see two young tal- Bertie Simmonds, Mike van den Toorn, ents winning their first title, it is also proof that the products we sell in the showroom are also winners Massimo Zanzani on the circuit. Printing But as one season ends a new one begins and there’s no time to rest on our laurels. Yamaha has an Habo DaCosta BV, Vianen, The Netherlands exciting line-up of bikes planned for the 2006 and in this issue we’re bringing you a first look at the R6 Insider is produced on behalf of Yamaha that will challenge for the supersport world title next year. This is one special bike and if you think it Motor Europe by Yamaha Racing looks great in the pictures just wait ‘til you see it in the metal. It looks amazing! Communications, a service of p’ZAZ, Hoogte Kadijk 61hs, 1018 BE Amsterdam, Remember that Insider is you, the Yamaha enthusiast’s magazine. In this issue we’ve taken on board The Netherlands. Telephone +31 20 62 56 539. many of the comments you’ve made on the Insiders message boards and from the next issue we’ll be running a club section in the magazine, complete with a letters page. Send us your thoughts by email Reproduction of any text, photograph or illustration in this magazine is prohibited to [email protected] we’ll publish the best ones. without permission from the publisher. For me it has been a great privilege to have been a part of Yamaha’s amazing anniversary year. I really While care is taken to ensure that the content enjoyed seeing the special liveries we introduced at the Laguna Seca and Valencia races, which were a of Insider is accurate, the publisher can not accept any liability for errors or omissions. great tribute to our racing heritage. Now it’s time to look forward to the next 50. But before then I hope you enjoy reading this edition of Insider and look forward to catching up with you again next season. ©2005 Yamaha Motor Europe NV Laurens Klein Koerkamp Racing Division Department Manager Yamaha Motor Europe NV Contributors Mike van den Toorn Bertie Simmonds Mike van Cleven Amsterdam fashion photographer Few journalists know Colin Edwards as Belgian Mike is a lover of all Mike had a different kind of super- well as Bertie, who wrote a biography things extreme. He’s also a model in his studio recently - the on the Texan two years ago. The pair darned great photographer, as Yamaha YZF-R6 that adorns the sat down again to give Insider the witnessed by his opening shot front cover of this Insider. lowdown on Colin’s first season as a for our ‘Blue army’ feature on Yamaha factory MotoGP rider. page 42. Gordon Ritchie Bas van den Biggelaar Gordo’s being doing what he does best A graduate of Eindhoven’s famous art for this issue: going around the paddock academy and self confessed bike nut, and speaking to the guys behind the Bas is responsible for the cool illustration scenes. This time he’s asking how they in this issue’s Noriyuki Haga feature. got the lucky break for their dream jobs. INSIDER 3 INSIDE... Pitlane The latest 14 news from Yamaha HQ, Pitlane provides you with VIP access all areas to the wide ranging world of Yamaha. The cult of Haga Into the zone Racing Insider spoke with might be all about fast Noriyuki Haga to dis- bikes and strong men, cover his thoughts on but there’s another the season gone by aspect that’s often over- and the relationship looked. Tuning the rider’s with his legions of head is just as important. 20 fans. 46 Mat Oxley investigates. Ahead of the pack Living the dream To 28 Insider takes a look 50 most fans, the idea of under the skin of the working in bike racing bike that won all three is just a dream. But MotoGP world titles in Insider talked to nine 2005: the Yamaha such people who YZR-M1. turned the dream into a reality. Next generation Yamaha’s 2006 YZF-R6 looks set to move the 600cc supersport class to a new level. It’s also been designed to win in world supersport. 32 Here’s the inside story. The homecoming Colin Meet Mr Öhlins For Edwards returned to almost 30 years, Swedish Yamaha in 2005, taking company Öhlins has a fine fifth place in the led the way in suspen- MotoGP world cham- sion technology. We pionship. Insider grilled met founder Kenth the Texas Tornado on Öhlin to find out more. 38 his homecoming year. 5456 Blue army The 2005 MX2 world champi- 60 onship was a story of Review 2005 saw a many men... but just Yamaha victory feeling one bike - Yamaha’s sweep across the globe. YZ250F. Insider charts Relive all the best bits the history of this in our season review. quarter-litre classic. 66 42 Standings A statistical round-up of the 2005 season in Yamaha’s officially entered race classes 4 INSIDER INSIDER 5 Move over JB... Wouldn’t you have mechanics like this in your fantasy MotoGP team? With a pit crew like this, it’s little wonder Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi had an extra spring in their step at Laguna Seca. PICTURE: MILAGRO 6 INSIDER INSIDER 7 Lessons from The Doctor Valentino Rossi and his Yamaha YZR-M1 dominated MotoGP in 2005… again! The Doctor won 11 of the 17 races to secure his seventh world title and ensure Yamaha topped the team and manufacturer championships. PICTURE: MILAGRO 8 INSIDER INSIDER 9 Moment of truth The 2005 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup was a thrilling affair that was only settled at the very last corner of the championship. Turkish starlet Kenan Sofuoglu set the early pace in the championship, but by the final round it was his more consistent Yamaha Motor Germany team-mate Didier van Keymeulen that led by one point. The Belgian saved his best to the very end, passing Sofuoglu on the penultimate corner to take the race win and the title. Sofuoglu was distraught but greater things will surely await both these young talents. PICTURE: GRAEME BROWN 10 INSIDER INSIDER 11 Dressed for success If you wanna be a winner, you gotta stay safe. It’s a code Yamaha’s world champion Stefan Everts knows only too well. With a wardrobe designed to keep his Belgian body in pristine condition, it’s no wonder the champ takes a little longer than most to get dressed in the morning. And hey, ya gotta look cool if you’re the champion, right? PICTURES: GARY FREEMAN 12 INSIDER INSIDER 13 Pitlane Quick news YAMAHA RIDERS ONCE again Party time dominated the prestigious International Six Day Enduro Yamaha’s golden anniversary year proved (ISDE), this year held in Slovakia. Following on from the WR450F’s a memorable one on the track, and the outright wins in 2003 and 2004 (in company’s three world champions all the hands of Stefan Everts and Stefan Merriman), Australian made sure it was a year to remember Merriman once again took top away from the circuits too. Insider sent honours in 2005, with his UFO Corse Yamaha team-mate, Poland’s intrepid snapper Pixelpony along to Bartosz Oblucki, winning the capture the action! Enduro 1 category on his WR250F. NO CHANGE FOR Yamaha Motor Europe’s official entries in the 2006 ANTONIO CAIROLI, STEFAN Everts and Valentino Rossi Superbike and Supersport World all had the expected heroes welcome in their hometowns, Championships. In superbike, with all three riders repaying their fans by throwing giant Yamaha Motor Italia have re- free parties in return. signed Noriyuki Haga and Andrew Top Belgian artist Praga Khan and his band (pictured Pitt, while Yamaha Motor Germany right) even turned up to celebrate Everts’ ninth title suc- retain Australian duo Kevin Curtain cess, taking to the stage wearing replica S72 motocross and Broc Parkes to ride the new shirts of course! Yamaha also thanked their riders by invit- YZF-R6 in supersport. FRENCHMAN ing them to a corporate evening at the final MotoGP DAVID FRETIGNE confirmed his round in Valencia, where Everts and Rossi took to the intentions for the 2006 Dakar rally stage in front of a specially invited audience.