Autoportal India

Yamaha recently launched the R15 V4 and R15M, taking the legacy of the legendary Yamaha R15 further. While scintillating in the colours it was launched in, what you see here is something even more special. It is the Yamaha R15M WGP 60th Anniversary Edition which commemorates Yamaha’s 60 years on the World Grand Prix stage. And we believe that there is no better motorcycle than the R15M to don this livery simply because it embodies decades of Yamaha’s engineering prowess and innovation in Grand Prix Racing.

One look at the motorcycle when it reached our garage and we knew it was something special. A modern silhouette that depicts how far the R15 has come with a livery that harkens back to the glorious past of Yamaha in motorsports. Initially, it was supposed to be just a review but the livery is something that needs a piece on its own. So before we move on to the review of the Yamaha R15M WGP 60th Anniversary Edition, let us talk about the story behind the livery and the journey of Yamaha in Grand Prix Racing.

Motorsport has been an essential part of Yamaha Motor Company ever since its inception. It is evident from the fact that their first race was the Mount Fuji Ascent Race on July 10, 1955. The significance of this date lies in the fact that the company was established 10 days before the race! And with their newly launched YA-1, they conquered the course to take a commanding victory. This is a prime example, among many, of Yamaha’s dedication and devotion to motorsports.

This was followed by Yamaha’s foray into international racing at the Catalina GP in the United States in 1958 and finally, their Road Racing Grand Prix debut at the Grand Prix of France in May 1961. A new manufacturer in the cut-throat world of motorcycle racing, it did not take Yamaha long to be on their winning way. In 1963, Fumio Ito scored Yamaha’s first GP win at the Belgian Grand Prix, racing an RD56 in the 250cc class. Within a year of that win, Yamaha took their first Rider and Constructor title as Phil Read conquered the 250cc class in 1964.

Since then, there has been no looking back and Yamaha has taken over 500 wins to date! This has been down to Yamaha producing winning motorcycles and bringing in riders that can make the most of those machines. From ‘Steady Eddie’ Eddie Lawson to Wayne Rainey, Yamaha’s world champions have time and again complimented the Iwata manufacturer’s engineering prowess with their own skill. Even before the two illustrious names that we have mentioned, Yamaha had been a ride of choice for perhaps the best motorcycle racer that has ever lived- Giacomo Agostini.

As time passed, Grand Prix Racing moved from 2-stroke to 4-stroke motorcycles and was christened MotoGP. This also marked the birth of the Yamaha YZR-M1, their MotoGP prototype and one of the most successful motorcycles on the grid ever since the inception of the class. Yamaha’s winning ways too stayed with them as they first dominated MotoGP with Valentino Rossi, followed by Jorge Lorenzo, and now, Fabio Quartararo.

With their presence in MotoGP, Yamaha has also been committed to making their production motorcycles better with the innovations brought about in the prototype class. An example of this pursuit can be seen on the YZF-R1, one of the best superbikes ever made. Another example can be the YZF-R15, one of the most important motorcycles to have graced the Indian market. And we have been fortunate enough to take two R1s and one R15 around India, way back in 2009, for a ride we called Passion Hunt.

Since then, we have ridden multiple iterations of the R1 and the R15. The R1 is an amazing motorcycle without a shadow of a doubt. But the R15 holds a special place in our hearts. Firstly because it had such a profound impact on the Indian market. The fairing, the twin headlamps, the deltabox chassis, the telepathic handling, and more than anything, the engine’s racebike like characteristics- the R15 brought a revolution along with it.

Secondly, it is because we have seen it grow. From the legendary V1 to the even sharper V2, and from the razor-sharp V3 to the R15 V4 and R15M, which is perhaps the most complete supersport motorcycle in its class. The latest R15 is simply better in every aspect; looks better, goes better, and is more advanced than ever. The constant evolution and betterment of the R15 is a testament to the impact Yamaha’s presence in Grand Prix Racing has had on their production motorcycles.

Now, we have talked about what makes the R15 the legendary motorcycle that it is. We have also talked about how the R15M is primed to take that legacy forward but we are yet to talk about this special livery of the R15M WGP 60th Anniversary Edition. So let us touch on that a bit before we move on to the review of the motorcycle.

It was in 1964 that Yamaha ran its first racebike painted white with red stripes. After withdrawing temporarily from Grand Prix Racing in 1968, they returned in 1973 in the premier class with their 500cc challenger, YZR500, finished in white with red lines. This particular colour scheme became a traditional livery for Yamaha and not just in Grand Prix, but in Japan’s national road racing series and even in motocross. While this is the story behind the white and red colour scheme, there’s something more to discuss when it comes to the livery- the chain block that runs along the length of the motorcycle.

It was the early 1970s and Yamaha was looking to bolster their racing efforts in the US. During that time, legendary American racers like Kenny Roberts raced Yamaha racebikes that had a yellow colour along with a black chain-block graphic. The popularity and domination exhibited by the riders on Yamaha machinery made the livery synonymous with Yamaha in the US.

These liveries finally came together in 1978’s 500cc Grand Prix Class. On one hand, Roberts’ machinery donned his signature yellow-black livery while his teammate, Johnny Cecotto’s machine had Yamaha’s traditional white and red line, but it also used a chain-block-styled design with vertical slits. Since then, we have seen the YZR-M1 don this livery along with the WSBK-spec R1. And finally, it has found another home on the R15M WGP 60th Anniversary Edition.