Yamaha rethinks Open class project for Forward Racing

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Yamaha will continue to supply the Forward Racing squad with a factory YZR-M1 engine and chassis after a late strategy change for 2015.

Yamaha management have always been adamant that its Open class entry with Forward Racing would revert to an engine supply deal only in 2015, as had been the original plan for this season.

But Yamaha has confirmed to MCN that the Italian-based squad would still have the option to use a YZR-M1 chassis next season, but remains free to develop its own frame.

Aleix Espargaro is currently racing the YZR-M1 engine and chassis, but new teammate Alex de Angelis prefers the British-built Forward frame, which was designed by ex-FTR boss Mark Taylor and built by Harris Performance.

Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis outlined details of the Open YZR-M1 agreement with Forward for next season and he told MCN: “We have changed the plan. The original concept of the Open class project was that we would supply engines. Then in order to help Forward we supplied them with a chassis and that worked to their advantage and kept them competitive.

"When we went into the early negotiations for next year, we said to whoever wants to partner with us it is going to be an engine only package. If we supported three or four riders it is physically impossible for us to support all those chassis.

"The same supplier that produces those frames also produces the chassis for our factory team, and if we overload them trying to produce a whole load more frames it puts us in difficulty.

"We didn’t confirm serious interest to go ahead with the project and so we continue only with Forward Racing. And because of that we can still supply a chassis in addition to the engine.

"Our plan is to allow the team to continue with this year’s chassis, which is a 2013-spec factory chassis. They can take that chassis into next year and this year’s chassis will be an option for them to buy. So they could race the 2014 chassis in 2015 or continue with what they have.

"They intend to use our 2014 chassis but they are still considering a project to introduce their own chassis during next year as well. They are not forced to use the Yamaha chassis.”

Many think Yamaha’s decision to continue its chassis supply option with Forward Racing is to counter Honda’s major upgrade of its production RCV1000R, which will be the factory RC213V spec this year raced by satellite duo Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista.

Yamaha also plans to upgrade the YZR-M1 motor it will offer to Forward, which has not yet confirmed a teammate for new signing Bradl yet.

Jarvis added: “It will be an upgrade on what they have now but slightly different to because the electronics are obviously different for the Open class.

"They will not have the seamless gearbox because the standard championship software doesn’t allow you to configure it right now. In the future it will be different but right now you can’t do it. And the other reason is pure cost. It is simply too costly for an Open class team.”

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