The R9 rumor has been making the rounds for years, and publications have promised repeatedly that the Yamaha R9 release is imminent and that it will be appearing at the trade shows any day now. The proof they claimed was a series of patent and trademark filings to protect the name R9 and YZF-R9. For years, nothing has happened. The latest iteration of the rumor is a bit different because Kevin Bos (director of Ten Kate) works for an organization with contractual ties to Yamaha, and he has apparently told journalists that the Yamaha R9 will compete in World Supersport starting in the 2025 season. Details about the bike are still nonexistent, other than the use of the 3-cylinder 889cc CP3.
The CP3 engine produces only 117hp in MT09 trim, but the engine is capable of much more, and could easily produce as much power as the Panigale V2 or F3 800. I doubt Yamaha will tune the street bike to these specs, but the racebike would have much greater potential than the current World Supersport tune. As more next generation supersport motorcycles are released, the Supersport class will have the option to raise the state of tune, moving it closer to what the 600s made in their heyday (~150hp). If this happens, I believe the superior cost structure, superior sales figures, and the entertaining variety of machines will push Supersport into the limelight. Superbike will always have superior performance, but subscription to the class at the national level may wane as Supersport becomes more popular.
Of course, the FIM could always maintain the current state of Supersport tune, and re-develop the Superbike formula, but they are running out of time, if that is the plan. The 1000s will supposedly loose their battle with emissions regulations in the next 2-3 years, depending on the implementation of Euro6.
