WSBK 2022: Yamaha YZF-R1 with upgraded electronic control system

From WSBK’s official report last week, the electronic control system of the Yamaha YZF-R1 2022 factory race car is being further improved with incremental upgrades that bring constant improvements to the fighting force.

Yamaha’s two main teams in WSBK, Pata Yamaha WSBK (factory team) and Brixx Yamaha WSBK (independent team/satellite team), have had two rounds of pre-season testing so far and will have two more before the official start of the season, with testing focused on the electronic control system. Reigning and recent world champion ToprakRazgatlioglu, his mechanic’s team leader Phil Marron, and Pata Yamaha WSBK team manager Paul Denning have welcomed the news.

Note: The WSBK World Superbike Championship is tentatively scheduled to have twelve stages in the 2022 season, kicking off in Aragon, Spain, from April 8-10.

WSBK reports that the new electronic control system is expected to improve on all the functions of the original system, such as anti-start/headset cornering control and traction control. In addition, during the third round of testing this year (Aragon, Spain), they also found that Yamaha is testing a new mechanical component on the engine side. This new mechanical component will allow the machine to perform better out of corners. For former world champion Raglio Lu, the new changes to the car will further strengthen his riding characteristics: the ability to exit corners faster than his competitors is one of his strengths for the 2021 season, and he is also the latest demonstrator of heavy braking action in WSBK, making him one of the most difficult riders to pass.

Speaking of the upgrades and enhancements to the electronic control system, Laglioğlu expressed his delight, “We’ve taken an incredible step forward in terms of electronics and now I love it. The anti-start/headset device, engine braking, traction control, etc., everything has made good progress and improved. We will test the system again in Catalunya, and hopefully, we will have good weather. The test in Portimao (Portugal) (note: February 7 – 9, WSBK’s second official pre-season test of the year) was already incredible for me with the new equipment, and now the test in Aragon is a big step forward.”

The WSBK World Superbike Championship is a real-world testing ground for many production superbikes, and the results of all aspects of the test will, to a large extent, become the standard for the final commercially available production bikes – the basic model for proving technology on the race track.

Learn more about Yamaha YZF R1

There is no doubt that superbikes are the most competitive field, and all the major brands are fighting to win the “crown jewel” by applying the latest ideas, technologies, and materials. Yamaha understands this, and the YZF-R1 has been designed with the concept of evolution in mind to improve its overall performance across the board.

Increasing energy and reducing consumption

In order to strengthen the high-revving performance of the powerful heart, the parallel four-cylinder engine has a new cylinder head, optimized valve train, new finger-follower for the valve rocker arm, and modified cam profile to optimize valve lift and make the valve opening and closing action more stable at high rpm. The intake has also been improved, with the choke valve mounted closer to the combustion chamber to enhance combustion stability and efficiency. The choke valve body is 45mm in diameter, but the new Bosch nozzle is no longer mounted at the bottom but at the top. Compared to the previous generation, this 10-hole nozzle injects a fine oil mist more directly into the combustion chamber and has a wider spray angle of 21.5° than in the past, all of which helps to further improve the power efficiency of the parallel four-cylinder engine.

Reducing losses is equally important. The connecting rods of this power heart is made of titanium alloy, manufactured through a cracking process that reduces weight by 40% compared to conventional steel connecting rods, and greatly reduces inertia! The crankshaft is also 20% lighter, and this makes the engine response sensitive and competitive, especially in the high-rpm region! Moreover, this parallel four-cylinder has a special construction with the cylinders offset from the crankshaft centerline, reducing friction between the pistons and cylinders. In addition, the latest version of the YZF-R1 has an improved deflector design, resulting in a 5.3% improvement in aerodynamic performance!

Full power

A great sports car is not good only for its power, but it is not good at all without it! The YZF-R1’s 998mL displacement parallel four-cylinder engine delivers superb peak power of 147.1kW (13,500r/min) and 113.3N-m (11,500r/min) without the need for forced air intake. This passionate heart of fire is matched by the light weight of the car, giving the YZF-R1 an excellent power-to-mass ratio and sharp acceleration!