DRF.com – After yesterday’s announcement, the issue of stopping production of the Yamaha R1 and R1M superbikes in 2025 is due to problems with Euro5+ exhaust standard regulations in Europe. Even so, the Yamaha Racing Europe racing team will still be present with this superbike at the WSBK event.
Yamaha Racing Europe Statement
Yamaha Racing stated during practice for the 2024 World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island, Australia. “We will remain fully committed to the Yamaha R1 in leading racing class production motorbikes throughout the world.”
They also announced that this team will continue to use this superbike in the FIM Superbike and Endurance World Championships, even after 2025. Yamaha Racing added, “This commitment is also expanded to continue to support teams and consumers who have a hobby in the racing arena by using their flagship superbike Yamaha.”
This statement emerged shortly after Yamaha announced that it would stop production and sales of the R1 and R1M. After that, Yamaha Racing confirmed that it would continue to be present with the Yamaha R1 in WorldSBK, even though the mass production model would later be discontinued.
Yamaha R1
Yamaha’s flagship superbike first debuted with its first model in 1998, which at that time was a model that was one of the best choices for daily use or taking to the track. After 2025, we will still see R1, even if only on the track.
Yamaha prefers not to make models that meet Euro5+ emissions standards and makes them track-specific. Therefore, the name of the motorbike will be YZF-R1 Race, which is similar to its younger brother YZF-R6 Race. With this, manufacturers no longer need to worry about emission regulations with freeflow exhausts and other racing equipment.