Well, don't jump to conclusions just yet, ol' boy. If you did things that quickly and reactionary on a racetrack, you'd be 500GP Champion right now. Sure, it's still down three horsepower as well. But there are some things that cannot be quantified by the use of a scale or dynomometer. Things like feedback, brakes, and the ability to work a bike at or near its limit, lap after lap.
More power is always a welcome addition.
Concurrently, we were handed various static representations of the bike to demonstrate the smaller new battery, black box and the lighter steering stem. There were little changes in all, but a five-pound weight savings, in a class that's often decided by tenths on the racetrack and grams on the scales, is nothing to be bashful about. On the track, these changes amounted to what would definitely be considered progress, though not as significant as the previously mentioned Supersport contender that will be piloted by The Intimidator, Aaron Yates, this year. Still, Yamaha's newest acquisition, Anthony Gobert, appears to have himself quite the tool available to him with which to conquer the class. The big track at Willow Springs is extremely fast and there are only a few points where you get into the brakes, and this puts an emphasis on the feedback you get from both ends as you rail through turns well into the triple digits.