THE Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, France, is set to host the Yamaha Racing Experience this September.
Yamaha Racing Experience is a chance for owners of Yamaha’s YZF-R1M “to get to know their machine better and take their riding skills to the next level,” according to Yamaha.
“The incredible event gives you the chance to explore the full potential of your Yamaha Supersport machine and to improve your riding skills as well as technical knowledge to fully understand your R1M,” Yamaha says.
The Paul Ricard circuit is also a legendary one. It is the home of the mythical Bol d’Or 24-hour endurance race, although Yamaha has not won the Bol’ since 2007, when it was hosted at Magny-Cours.
Paul Ricard is also one of the most technologically advanced race tracks in the world, with coloured strips in the asphalt with different levels of adhesion designed to slow vehicles - particularly cars, to be fair - without gravel, which presents its own safety risks.
But that technology has meant it has become home to F1’s French Grand Prix since 2018, although that particular championship’s expansions in other countries means it seems that Le Castellet’s time on the F1 schedule will soon be up.
For the R1M’s part, it is the production motorcycle from Yamaha that is the closest a consumer can get to a Grand Prix bike, with advanced electronics in particular that set it apart from the standard R1.
And, of course, the R1’s pedigree in racing was confirmed last year when Toprak Razgatlioglu won Yamaha’s first WorldSBK title since Ben Spies was triumphant in 2009. This year, Razgatlioglu is the first rider to ever defend a World Superbike crown for Yamaha, while Tarran Mackenzie is looking to get his BSB title defence underway this Bank Holiday weekend in Oulton Park after a testing injury kept him out of the British Championship’s season opener in Silverstone. Furthermore, Jake Gagne won the MotoAmerica Superbike title last season with the R1, and he is the only rider other than ex-Ducati Grand Prix winner Danilo Petrucci to win in MotoAmerica’s Superbike class in 2022.
The event is currently due to take place at Le Castellet on 5 September, although Yamaha note that this could change if the Covid situation - and the regulations surrounding it - change before then.
