Yamaha delays 1000cc debut

Yamaha has delayed the much anticipated debut of its 2012 prototype 1000cc MotoGP machine next week.

The Japanese factory had been due to fly over the YZR-M1 800cc replacement for Jorge Lorenzo and Assen MotoGP winner Ben Spies to evaluate at a test immediately after this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello.

But to allow further time for the development of the new bike, Yamaha has decided to postpone the test and Lorenzo and Spies will now have to wait to assess the new 1000cc machine until after the Brno round in the Czech Republic in mid-August.

Yamaha’s decision not to test their 1000cc bike in Mugello means fans will have to wait longer to see how the new bikes are shaping up against each other.

With Ducati already racing the vast majority of its GP12 with Valentino Rossi in Assen last week in the guise of the GP11.1, they don’t plan to test next year’s bike in Mugello.

And Honda confirmed in Assen last weekend that it won’t be shipping its new bike back to Europe until the Brno test on August 15.