The Yamaha MotoGP bike you never knew existed

[ns86]

A SINGLE CRANKSHAFT VERSION experimental Prototype. Never heard about this until today!

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arti ... ew-existed

Edited for Clarity AUG 20 2020

[steveho]

Great article, thanks for sharing!!!
Not sure that level of R&D budget would be available now?

[ChequeredFlagRacing]

Engine picture in this link
https://global.yamaha-motor.com/race/wg ... r500_0wl9/

[ns86]

Special version is SINGLE CRANK. Engine link is a Twin Crank. I have yet to see a photo of a the single crank YZR500 V4 Engine? Please post if found!

[Speed Freak]

I would be interested too.
The Honda also has 2 cranks, not one. It's a double V2 with gears in the middle, the (known) Yamaha is a double R2.

[Fandango]

Ha... Im new to the forum so this is first post, but can confirm that there was a single crank yam built as i worked for RedBull Yamaha then, but it was never raced, i think the test rider back then was Nakajima and i think he ran some Japanese championship rounds with it? I remember a disc valve yamaha 250 GP bike being warmed up at Yamaha Europe while there for building the 500's but that also got parked in the shed

[ns86]

Fandango, welcome aboard and thanks for the personal GP Scene input. This Prototype is quite shrouded in mystery and one of the most obscure I have heard of. Even the Square 4 Yamaha YZR was rare and short lived. It's like this single crank version, or as SpeedFreak would point out, perhaps a single plane dual crank, never got beyond a shakedown on track? Curious if it was actually run in Japanese Championship rounds? Any published info is rare so please post any if someone has some

I have never seen a photo of this engine! Max Oxley said: When I asked Nakajima if he could supply some photos of the YZR 0WL he laughed and said, “Maybe 50 years from now…”

Yamaha spent multiple Millions on this with the intent to race it for just 1 season. In fact, it never even entered one World Championship Round.

[Fandango]

Hi ns86 and thanks for the welcome. actually it very nearly wasn't so mysterious! In the REDBULL Yam team I worked along side a great Japanese mechanic, and he had been on that 0WL1 development team if memory serves me correct, and he said it almost got raced, they tested in Barcelona and Brno and Biaggi liked it and made better lap times, but he prefer to race the current OWN3 at following race Assen as this track wasn't hard for engine power delivery, and Yam wasn't fully there yet with Exhaust profile.
So unbeknownst to even the Development crew, higher up in Yamaha management the decision was made to scrap two strokes and move to diesel... sorry 4 strokes! Actually these decisions in GP are pretty much always made by Honda
I now work for KTM Motorsports and can say that when a factories management make decisions like this there is no dicking about... its instant so thats how close it got to being raced.
It was the same when Kawasaki pulled out of MotoGP... The bikes for that year had already been built and actually had been already spinning around at Philip Island test, the team contracted, hotels and hire cars booked and paid for the season, but high high up in Kawasaki Industries at the start of that global financial crises, Management started doing some house keeping and racing was one of the cuts, project leaders track side in Oz had no idea of this.
The money spent on it for not being raced almost means nothing to the R&D departments... After all my years around this race industry, I still can't get my head around all the waste and material we have to destroy and throw away, often before it ever sees daylight let alone a race track... believe me you could cry on a daily bases...

[ns86]

Once again, Hats off to you Fandango for the Personal content you posted. Your insight on the YZR zero WL Prototype is probably one of the most elaborate in print! Very true, your take on The Business of Racing. I had a Family member worked with Tom Walkinshaw Racing (Benneton,Ligier Arrows) and heard a few stories over the years. Of Course we are curious as to your involvement in the GP Scene with Red Bull and KTM, but respect your privacy if so desired. Thanx for your input!

[Fandango]

Hi Guys. Well Its nothing spectacular really, I just worked as a race Mechanic through my GP Years, started with an Austrian Rider Andi Preining sponsored by the porno star Dolly Buster back in 94, couple of year after that spinning spanners for Eskil Suter also on Aprilia 250, one year in 125 and then started the first year of the new RedBull team with Crafar and then McCoy with a handful of guest riders through the years like JMB and Hoffman. after the Nightmare year with the WCM four stroke after Redbull left, I went to Suzuki MotoGP development team, couple of years there and then finished up with the last two years of the Kenny Roberts MGP team with Jr before starting at KTM after KR closed shop. Was interesting at KTM being on the other side of the fence developing the race bikes and understanding that side of the job. After bringing the RC8 to the track although not to the planned WSB in the end we moved onto Moto3 in 2012 and other than a few side steps to help the new MGP KTM project i remain developing the Moto3 bike.
I have to so that this 500 days have been the most enjoyable, the teams although looking big have been much smaller than nowadays... as mechanics you built the whole bike and engine also engine builds and crank changes at track, whereas the MGP the motors come ready in a box from factory and you need a ton more people for Electronic and Clutch and Gearbox maintenance, and then a ton more people for PR and caring rides helmet and gloves about the place !?

[lost1750GTV]

"Nothing spectacular"
Uhh, ok.
Pretty darn good then!

[ns86]

Wow, Did you get to work on the KR Proton V3 2 stroke or was it the V5 Honda 4 Stroke by the time you joined Kenny's team. Awesome career you've had!

[Fandango]

No thank god...i arrived for the last year of the V5 honda Engine and then the second year the V4 Honda. Ar RB Yam we had a french Mechanic ( my room mate ) and he had been at KR through those V3 days... Some of the stories had been crazy, the first bike had no balance shaft and vibrated so bad that apparently on undoing the belly pan quick fasteners it then hit the ground with a thud... as the engine was in it only connected to bike cables and the chain.... it had cracked full through all mounting lugs... that bike had been some tough years for KR from what i can gather.
Went to KR ranch after laguna seca one year to soon around his flat track, and in his museum over the workshop are all his GP bikes and trackers, and tucked away between them was a three cylinder 2T with head lights fairing was 916 Duc if i remember correct.. Kenny said they had been very close to producing a road going version for sale..!
I have a pic deep in the caverns of this lap top somewhere but can't seem to find it