Yamaha to use seamless gearbox in Misano MotoGP event

Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi have made repeated calls for Yamaha to incorporate the technology in order to close the current gap to Honda, which introduced a seamless gearbox earlier this year.

While Yamaha has previously trialled the system, it intends to race it for the first time this weekend.

Jorge Lorenzo ended a five-race winning streak for Hondas when he beat Marc Marquez by just 0.081 seconds at Silverstone.

"When I tried it [the seamless gearbox] in Brno I was smiling because it was nice not to feel this drop in power [during gear changes]," Lorenzo said.

"With a normal gearbox the bike moves every time you shift; with the seamless you can feel it - it should save tyres and also you're more in control.

"We have to check how it goes the whole weekend, but let's see if we gain something - especially in the race."

Rossi, who has claimed three consecutive fourth places, said the gearbox's introduction was perfectly timed given the number of gear changes required at Misano.

"We will try the new gearbox from tomorrow, and we are so happy," he said.

"For sure it is important, a big help for the rider - and also here at Misano is a track where you use the gearbox a lot so we hope it can be a good advantage in trying to fight with the Hondas.

"I don't know how much we can improve; we have to see during the weekend."

Yamaha confirmed it will also test on the Monday after this weekend's Misano Grand Prix, after it had to be abandon an intended post-race test at Brno due to rain.