Seems like such a simple solution but it's genius. Rossi pioneered it in his first few years on the M1. Slightly less total engine performance but the feel and grip is hugely improved.
It's factory so it will be used in factory racing series next year, might be a real advantage.
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Significantly, the new R1 features a 'big bang' engine design, as used in Yamaha's YZR-M1 MotoGP machine since 2004.
"This is a great bike, it's very like my M1 and it's exciting to see so many MotoGP qualities now appearing on a bike for the road," said Rossi, currently on target to win his first MotoGP title since 2005 and his sixth in total. "I think everyone who loves the R1 and Yamaha will be very excited about this new version, it's fantastic!"
Total engine torque is a combination of combustion torque, produced when a cylinder is fired, and inertia torque, produced by the rotation of the crankshaft. Of the two, only combustion torque is controlled directly by the rider, via the throttle.
'Big bang' engines improve rider feel by reducing the effects of inertia torque, but they are also more complex and reduce ultimate engine performance slightly compared with a conventional even-firing design.
During winter MotoGP testing, Masao Furusawa, Yamaha's general manager of Engineering Operations, told Crash.net that the company will 'never' use an even-firing engine in MotoGP again.
'Big bang' engines have not been used in World Superbike due to a rule which states that "the sequence in which the cylinders are fired (i.e. 1-2-4-3) must remain as originally designed on the homologated model".
Since the 2009 R1 features 'big bang' as standard, Yamaha will thus be able to use the technology in WSBK next season.
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