Year after year we find ourselves wondering how much further can the amazing middleweight powerplants be improved or how much better can these things end up looking and it would seem that the possibilities are endless. They actually are, but Yamaha claims their R6 as the best. Only time will tell if that is true so all we can do is take you through the one-off features and help you form an impression that not even time will change. The engine is the already consecrated 599cc liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder; DOHC, 16 titanium valves. Fuel injection is what counts and with their Chip Controlled Intake and Chip Controlled Throttle, Yamaha achieve the engine performance that is so hard to vie with. While the YCC-I system ensures excellent cylinder filling and broader powerband, the YCC-T dual-injector system complements for the 13.1:1 compression ratio and implicit greater throttle response.

With a six-speed transmission ensuring excellent gear ratios, your really can’t argue about R6’s potential, but there’s more. What counts a lot in the lap times fight is also the clutch. In this case, a slipper-type back torque-limiting unit helps at fast braking and downshifting so that can be done as late as possible before a corner. The Deltabox frame ensures outstanding handling and the fully-adjustable fork and rear shock are suitable both for street and track use. As expected, the brakes are among the most advanced you get (310mm floating disc; radial-mount four-piston calipers up front and 220mm disc, single-piston caliper at the rear) and they also prove high efficiency both on and off the track. Weight is also very important when speed is the goal and at a 414 lbs wet weight, Yamaha seems to have sorted that problem out (if they ever had it) pretty well. This also makes for faster braking and sharper cornering.