The Yamaha R9 has been the subject of rumors for some time now, but paddock rumors from WSBK suggest that it may be launched by the end of the year.
This week, WSBK is testing in Portimão ahead of the start of the 2024 season in Phillip Island at the end of February. Eurosport commentator Greg Haines is on-site and has heard a rumor suggesting that the Yamaha R6 may be about to start its final season in the World Supersport Championship.
The current 599 cc R6 made its debut in WSSP seven years ago in 2017 and won all the titles from then until 2022, only losing last year to Nicolo Bulega and the 955 cc Ducati Panigale V2.
It is also a bike that has not been marketed as a road bike for several years – you can only buy one now as a track bike equipped with GYTR accessories and equipment. Which is good, but not exactly the foundation for the kind of guaranteed financial success that a 600cc supersport bike has had in the past. Additionally, the R6 is accompanied by only two other 600 cc bikes on the WSSP grid in 2024: the Kawasaki ZX-6R and the Honda CBR600RR. Although both won races last year, it is difficult 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, obtaining a three-cylinder 890 cc engine to compete with a conventional three-cylinder 765 cc engine, for example, as well as with the remaining 600 four-cylinders, the three-cylinder F3 800 with 798 cc and the Panigale V2 with 955 cc.
Of course, for an R9 to be eligible for the WSSP, it would have to be produced and marketed to the public, which means that we could expect one at the beginning of next year if it were an immediate replacement for the R6 in the WSSP.
