Yamaha has just taken the wraps off its new YZR-M1 MotoGP bike. The new 2018 Yamaha YZR-M1 has been revealed by the company’s riders Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales. The new M1 was unveiled at an event in Madrid, Spain. One of the most prominent changes on the new 2018 Yamaha YZR-M1 is the new livery. The motorcycle now sees more use of white colour instead of green in the previous model. The blue colour still remains the prime one. The Movistar logo has taken the centre spot on the front fairing. Yamaha had been experimenting a new chassis in the last season and for this year, the company will use the retuned version of its 2016 chassis. The suspension system of the new 2018 Yamaha YZR-M1 has been sourced from Ohlins while the brakes have come from the house of Brembo. Last year, Yamaha saw the replacement of Lorenzo with Vinales who won his first two races with the team.
During the event, the company has extended the contract of Vinales to two more years while the future of nine-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi is uncertain at the moment. Vinales finished the last season at the third place. The 2018 season will be Rossi’s 13th year with Yamaha and the sixth consecutive one.
A few weeks back, Valentino Rossi had broken his leg during motocross training in Italy. He was operated and after being in the hospital for a couple of days, he was released and was asked by the doctors to take proper rest. Regarding his injury, Valentino Rossi said that he wants to be back on his bike as soon as possible. While doctors had stated that it will take 30 to 40 days for Valentino Rossi to be back on track, the 38-year-old made a comeback much sooner.
