FIRST IMPRESSIONS OUT THE GATE OK, OK, so the smell of pre-mix may have been wafting off the 125 and 250 two-strokes Yamaha had on hand to fill the gaps, while five of the new 450cc machines were being tested out on track. But I couldn’ t not mention the burning of two-stroke oil, lightly teasing the nostrils, right? Sadly, we were not here for the ring-a-ding-ding. But not sadly, we were here for what you could arguably say is an almost all-new premier class motocross bike from the BluCru team. So, as much as that brand new 250 2T was calling my name, there were other priorities to attend to. With the man himself on hand to give a detailed run down on all the new bits, Josh Coppins gave me the brief on all the 2026 updates, tweaks and differences, before the JCR

race mechanic swung into action with his T-Bars and set up the cockpit to how I liked it. Getting that personal detail goes a long way to making a bike that is not yours feel like yours, and a lot more comfortable right off the bat. The first thing that hit me wasn’ t the power, which from my experience has been a Yamaha 450cc trait for a long time now. But it also wasn’ t the lack of power. It was a combination of a lack of noise and an increase in traction. Josh explained that the new 109dB noise level is achieved by a combination of a new restricted / resonated muffler and restricted / reworked airbox, which quietens the bike down noticeably. I say‘ restricted’ loosely as even though it’ s technically right, do not in any way assume the YZ450F is at all restricted. At first, it almost tricked me into thinking it’ s softer, and it kinda is, but to be more correct, I would say it’ s smoother in its delivery. Crack the throttle, though, and you quickly realise that Yamaha muscle is still there – only a few degrees further around the wrist. I would say the power is now delivered in a smoother, more deliberate way than on previous model years. Where last

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