Although Yamaha referred to a 'new 2008 prototype M1' as being present at Sepang last week, the final version of the factory's 2008 bike is expected to be significantly different.
Both factory rider Jorge Lorenzo and Tech 3's Colin Edwards were invited to ride the '2008 prototype' at the Malaysian test, where it was being put through it paces by the Yamaha Test Team, but Lorenzo later said that it wasn't '
the 2008'.
Tech 3 team principal Herve Poncharal then clarified the situation:
"This is not the '08," Herve told
Crash.net. "This is a prototype with some ideas of evolution, but it is absolutely not the '08 because the '08 does not exist yet.
"The Yamaha Test Team has had three different prototypes here, three different bikes, but the '08 is not ready. That is good because we want them to work on it right until January.
"The '08 will first come out here, at Sepang, on January 22."
