Actually, we were not the only ones. Many Yamaha enthusiasts answered the “Call of the Blue” and showed up for a day at the racetrack.
Story: Joshua Varghese
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
Yamaha Motor India organised their second Track Day event of the year. This time it was at the Madras International Circuit and we were invited to participate. Performance is at the core of the Yamaha brand philosophy and it was heartening to see them give back to the community by providing a safe space for their customers to experience the capabilities of their Yamaha motorcycles. Chennai is home to many motorcycle enthusiasts and most of them would jump at an opportunity to ride on the track at an affordable price. Furthermore, quite a few of them own motorcycles and scooters made by Yamaha.
The parking lot was full of Yamaha bikes from all generations; specifically from the YZF, MT, FZ, and Aerox product ranges. While they were being prepped for the track, the riders attended the safety and track briefing in batches. Yamaha’s thoughtfulness was evident when they provided a complete set of riding gear for all the riders who did not have one of their own. In addition to the ride experience, there were many activities to keep the customers engaged, including contests where one could win prizes from merchandise to MotoGP tickets.
Amazing as it was, I have saved the best part of this event for the end. Out on display were the refreshed MT-09 and the mighty YZF-R1M. Alongside, they had also lined up the YZF-R7 and the MT-07. Immediately followed by the much-awaited YZF-R3 and MT-03 which could potentially establish Yamaha as a force to reckon with in the 300-cc segment. It may be recalled that in the previous issue, we had brought you an interview in which Eishin Chihana, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India, had confirmed the launch of these motorcycles. The 300 twins will be the first to arrive and they should be here by the end of this year. They will be followed by the R7 and MT-07 by mid-2024. From what we could see, all of them are certainly worth waiting for. The fit-and-finish and build quality are consistent with what we have come to expect of premium Yamaha products.
To round off an exciting day, yours truly also took to the track astride the YZF-R15M for some fast laps. The last time I rode an R15 around the track was during the press launch of the third-generation motorcycle. It was lovely to be reacquainted with the latest iteration of this involving machine. Overall, the Track Day appeared to be a huge success among the participants because while some went home with the prizes won by them, everybody had a smile on their face. The Buddh International Circuit is next on the list and we hope they hold these activities more frequently because most Yamaha motorcycles feel right at home on a racetrack.
Leave a Reply