News

The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is getting nearer to launching and all of the manufacturers are readying for what promises to be one of the most combative and competitive seasons of WorldSBK action. One constructor looking to make big steps forward is Yamaha, as the Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK squad field the youngest factory line-up on the grid. However, with a refreshed line-up, technical advances and fast Independent support, Yamaha could well be one of the main contenders in 2021.

THE BASICS

Remaining in the team for a second season after his three wins last year, Turkish star Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) will be leading Yamaha’s charge to potential Championship glory in 2021, after a solid season in 2020 which saw him finish fourth overall as top Yamaha, despite missing two races at Catalunya through injury. Partnering with him for the year ahead is reigning FIM Supersport World Champion Andrea Locatelli, with the Italian a rookie in 2021 after storming to 12 wins in WorldSSP in 2020. However, there’s also a third title contender on a Yamaha with Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) using 2021 equipment in the Independent team, and the American has been rapid in testing.

THE TECH

There’s plenty of technical advances for Yamaha in 2021, and you can enjoy them all here in this gallery we put together after the supported Barcelona Test at the start of April. One of the main features of the Yamaha in 2021 is that it has an evolved engine, it will feature the new Brembo front brake calipers that enhance performance in high temperatures and hard braking zones, as well as a new fairing on the front of the bike. Andrew Pitt, crew chief to Andrea Locatelli, commented on its purpose: “The most obvious change is the fairing; it protects the riders a little bit more from the wind, and we hope that means they can stay in the slipstream of the other bikes. That’s the most obvious visual change on the bike.”

Paul Denning, team principal of the Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK squad, also spoke of the hard work that has been done by Yamaha in the off-season to get ready for 2021, saying: “It’s an increasing challenge for Yamaha’s engineers to extract more performance but they’ve done a great job over the winter.

“Finding within the regulations slightly better aerodynamic performance, slightly better engine performance, better braking performance, everything is being tweaked all the time. So, incredibly positive work by a dedicated group of engineers in Milan and with additional support from Yamaha in Japan. Whether it is enough to beat the new Kawasaki or the Panigale we’ll see but our plan is to get out there and do our best.”

THE RIDERS: RAZGATLIOGLU

Toprak Razgatlioglu is undoubtedly one of the main rivals to Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), but can he beat him? Razgatlioglu commented, saying: “He’s a very experienced rider and maybe I need more years, but I’m always learning. This year, I think we are fighting but as I am speaking now, I don’t know because the season hasn’t started yet, so we will see when the season gets underway.”

THE RIDERS: LOCATELLI

Along with this, teammate Andrea Locatelli is in for a learning season, but he’s aware of what he has to do, and he thinks he hopes to be able to improve with each take to the circuit: “For me, the important point is to improve every session and to improve every race; this is the idea for me. I think that by the end of the season, we can do very well. Now, I am still focused to understand everything, to work with the guys and to make a good set-up on the bike. But I am sure that we will arrive all good for the first race.

“Neither the team nor I have set ourselves any objectives, I think that - with the package we have and Yamaha's competitiveness - from mid-season on certain tracks and under certain conditions we will be able to take home some podiums. First of all we aim to improve step by step. The races will be very open, it won't be a simple World Championship but I want to show who I am and I think we can get there and fight for really important results.”

THE RIDERS: GERLOFF

One of the main riders in the fight for the leading positions in 2021 is America’s Garrett Gerloff, as he continues his upward trend from 2020 into the 2021 season, having been very fast in testing. What’s more important is that he believes in his abilities too, saying: “I just want to focus on me and focus on getting the most out of my Yamaha R1. I feel like if I keep the focus here and don’t try to look out too far then just focus on the process and we will be in a good place by the end of the season.

“I definitely want to win a race for sure, like that is something that I didn’t get to do last year, and I’m really fired up and motivated to try and get on the top step of the podium so for sure that’s a goal that I have. Yamaha has given me such an amazing bike and I know that I have the equipment to do the job and I have an amazing team around me, the GRT team with the same guys that I had last year which were amazing and did an amazing job. I really feel like we have everything we need to win races and to be a Championship contender.”

THE INDEPENDENTS

Besides Gerloff and the two factory team riders, there’s also Gerloff’s teammate, rookie Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who brings a radical style to the Championship and has Japan’s hopes pinned on him. Joining the grid with Yamaha machinery is taste of vintage as Alstare Racing make a surprise comeback to the grid, with Christophe Ponsson on what is officially known as the Alstare Yamaha.

Make sure you don’t miss a second of the action in 2021 with every lap coming LIVE with the WorldSBK VideoPass!