In this interview we spoke with Itaru Fukushima, project leader of development for the R1 RACE model. He covered how the R1 has been developed since 2019, about the new winglets, how the preparations for the 8 Hours are proceeding, and what goals are in place for the big event.

Winglets Deliver Breakthroughs

In the previous volume we mentioned that that there is no magic part that instantly accelerates a bike's evolution, but there is one new item that comes close: winglets added to the YZF-R1 through technological feedback from Yamaha's YZR-M1 MotoGP machine.

Talking about the winglets, Fukushima-san says, "The 1,000 cc engine has excess power, so the front wheel tends to lift easily. We can control that with electronics, but in reality, to prevent those wheelies, the electronics are forced to reduce engine power. With the winglets, the air keeps the front down, so that reduces the need for electronics, which improves acceleration. On corner entry, the air also pushes down on the front of the bike, and that gives it a more planted feel."

"These winglets aren't only being used on R1s in JSB, they're also in other production series like WorldSBK and EWC. They all have exactly the same shape and installation position because the rules say they have to be the same as the production model. So in other words, Nakasuga, Locatelli, Rea, and the YART riders all use the same winglets. That's why we had to be very careful when deciding on the shape. Nakasuga was very involved in developing the winglets, and working with him, we considered the advantages and disadvantages, and in the end, we decided on the best shape and mounting position."

Nakasuga himself says, "I've been involved in the development of the winglets for the YZR-M1 since the early stages, and although there were several different shapes available for the R1, we arrived at this mounting point pretty smoothly because of my experience and knowledge with the M1. We did try some versions that suppressed wheelies more, but we were aiming for a shape and mounting point that would improve not only wheelies but also cornering stability in a well-balanced way, and that's the winglets we have now.

"Having two big wings on the sides, normally you're going to lose some top speed, but with these there's no speed loss compared to before, and we get up to top speed plenty quickly, so overall they do raise the base potential of the bike," he said.

Of course, the R1 is not only intended for racing. It has to strike a balance between not going overboard on public roads, while still offering benefits on the racetrack. With that in mind, if the winglets have too strong an effect, they present disadvantages, like the front/rear balance being disrupted because of too much pressure on the front, or the tires being pressed so much as to make cornering feel heavy. This is why the balance is focused on public roads, and the racing benefits are on top of that.