Yamaha denies switch to seamless shift gearbox in MotoGP

Yamaha has denied its new factory YZR-M1 1000cc machine is equipped with a seamless shift gearbox similar to the systems used by Honda and Ducati in MotoGP.

Rumours emerged during last week’s rain-hit three-day MotoGP test in Sepang that Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies were assessing a seamless shift gearbox.

But Lorenzo’s team boss Wilco Zeelenberg confirmed that while new gearbox parts were being tested, the Spaniard didn’t have access to a seamless shift system.

He told MCN: “We are trying to improve in that area but we don’t have a seamless shift system. There are many ways to improve the gearbox with the shift pattern and the most expensive one is to have a complete new gearbox but we don’t have that.

“We don’t have a standard gearbox either but we are looking to make the transition between gears smoother and that’s basically it.

“Electronic wise it is also very important as well with shift timing and that is important because these bikes are much more powerful than last year, so we have more area to play with it because the torque is bigger.”

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess told MCN during 2011 that Yamaha’s gearbox was still a very advanced and sophisticated system, if not the seamless shift strategy adopted by Honda.

He said: “You would be a mug to think that the Yamaha gearbox is not something special. Yamaha have a very smooth and advanced system. I have been lucky enough to see the Yamaha system and inside some of the F1 gearboxes with the top teams, and knowing what they do in F1, then Yamaha have done a good job.”

Honda started to use the seamless shift system during the pre-season campaign for the 2011 world championship and the most significant benefit is the smoothness of upshifts while leaned over.

HRC newcomers Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl have raved about the Honda system during pre-season testing for the new 1000cc class in 2012.

Reigning Moto2 world champion Bradl said: “The gearbox is unbelievable. It changes gears in no time at all and there is no movement in the bike even when it is leaned over.”

And former factory Suzuki rider Bautista, who is now with the San Carlo Gresini Honda squad, added: “The gearbox is really impressive. When you are in a long turn and you have to change gear, the bike doesn’t move one millimetre.”