Yamaha Motor will continue to offer new YZF-R6 sportbikes for trackday riders and racers. (Yamaha Motor Europe/)

There are few sportbikes that handle as well at racing circuits worldwide as the YZF-R6. Yamaha recognizes this and offers its 600cc supersport in competition-specification form with the 2022 Yamaha YZF-R6 Race and R6 GYTR. Both sportbikes are based around the retired 2020 YZF-R6 streetbike which was retired from its US new motorcycle lineup citing cost and low sales volume.

Editor’s note: The road-going R6 was replaced by the curiously named YZF-R7 which we test rode during the 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Track Review, 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Review, and 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 MC Commute Review articles and videos.

The GYTR-kitted YZF-R6 comes outfitted with a variety of go-fast goodies from the GYTR parts catalog. (Yamaha Motor Europe/)

The Race edition jettisons all road-legal accoutrement for track bike enthusiasts and racers who like going fast. Gone are the LED headlights, position lights, rearview mirrors, horn, licence plate holder, and passenger seat and footrests, which should remove a healthy amount of weight from the 418-pound road bike.

And for those looking for something special, Yamaha will also produce an R6 GYTR, which benefits from a number of tasty GYTR go-fast parts to make the R6 even faster in a skilled rider’s hands.

The YZF-R6 Race jettisons all street-legal componentry including the LED headlights, position lights, rearview mirrors, horn, licence plate holder, and passenger seat and footrests. (Yamaha Motor Europe/)

GYTR spec R6′s include:

• GYTR race cowling set (carbon-reinforced fiberglass)
• Akrapovič full race exhaust system (100 dB)
• GYTR ECU set
• GYTR wire harness set
• GYTR interface cable
• GYTR on/off switch
• GYTR AIS plug set
• GYTR ABS emulator
• GYTR keyless fuel cap
• GYTR seat cushion
• Stainless steel brake-line set, front and rear
• GYTR fully adjustable race rearset
• Optional reverse shifting kit
• Rear sprocket protector (sharkfin)
• Front brake lever guard
• D.I.D gold race chain 520 conversion
• Sprocket drive, 15T/rear sprocket, 46T
• Sprocket nut set for 520 conversion
• Rear paddock stand hooks
• Paddock stand

No word on whether these models will make it to the North American market, but based on the demand of bikes like KTM’s limited-edition RC 8C and the photography (shot at what appears to be Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama), it could be a good niche segment for the Tuning Fork brand.

No word on whether either the YZF-R6 Race or GYTR-kitted R6 will reach North American shores despite the photos, which look like they were acquired at Barber Motorsports Park. (Yamaha Motor Europe/)

2022 Yamaha YZF-R6 Race Technical Specifications and Price

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com