The Yamaha R9 has been rumored for some time, but rumors from the WSBK paddock suggest that it could be launched by the end of the year.
This week, WSBK is testing in Portimão ahead of the start of the 2024 season at Phillip Island at the end of February. Eurosport commentator Greg Haines is on site and has heard a rumor suggesting that the Yamaha R6 could be about to start its final season in the World Supersport Championship.
The current 599 cc R6 made its WSSP debut seven years ago, in 2017, and won every title from then until 2022, until losing out last year to Nicolo Bulega and the 955 cc Ducati Panigale V2.
It’s also a bike that hasn’t been marketed as a road bike for several years – you can only buy one now as a circuit bike fitted with accessories and GYTR equipment. Which is fine, but not exactly the basis for the kind of guaranteed financial success that a 600cc supersport bike once enjoyed. What’s more, the R6 is joined by just two other 600cc bikes on the WSSP grid in 2024: the Kawasaki ZX-6R and the Honda CBR600RR. Although both won races last year, it’s hard to argue that either of them was consistently competitive with other machines, even with the R6.
Since 2022, the Supersport class has been revolutionized by new regulations that allow larger capacity bikes, such as the aforementioned Panigale V2, to compete. Others taking advantage of the new regulations include the Triumph Street Triple RS 765 and the MV Agusta F3 800.
A Yamaha R9 would also take advantage of the new regulations, but it would also be the most extreme example, getting an 890 cc three-cylinder engine to compete with a conventional 765 cc three-cylinder engine, for example, as well as the other 600 four-cylinders, the 798 cc three-cylinder F3 800 and the 955 cc Panigale V2.
Of course, for an R9 to be eligible for the WSSP, it would have to be produced and marketed to the public, which means we could expect one early next year if it were an immediate replacement for the R6 in the WSSP.