More power and a new three-cylinder engine await WorldWCR riders in 2027. We look at what the change could mean for Kiwi racer Avalon Lewis.
- CFMOTO 675SR-R replaces the Yamaha R7 as WorldWCR’s one-make motorcycle in 2027.
- The 675cc triple brings a different engine character; final race-bike specifications are still to be announced.
- Kiwi racer Avalon Lewis has competed in WorldWCR, although her 2027 plans are unconfirmed.
After three seasons racing Yamaha R7s, competitors in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) will be getting their hands on something quite different in 2027.
CFMOTO has announced an agreement to become the championship’s exclusive motorcycle supplier, with its 675SR-R triple-cylinder sportsbike replacing the Yamaha twin used since the series began in 2024.
It’s a significant change for the championship, and not simply because the new bike comes from China. The production 675SR-R makes a claimed 70kW, bringing a different engine character and potentially more performance than the outgoing R7. Just how the championship-spec machines will compare remains to be seen.
A DIFFERENT SORT OF RACE BIKE
The road-going CFMOTO uses a 675cc liquid-cooled three-cylinder engine, with claimed outputs of 70kW (95PS) at 11,000rpm and 70Nm at 8250rpm. That’s a departure from the R7’s parallel-twin layout, and riders will have to adapt to the triple’s power delivery and feel.
For comparison, Yamaha lists the production R7 at 54kW (73.4PS) at 8750rpm. On those road-bike figures, the CFMOTO’s 70kW represents roughly 30% more power. The final WorldWCR race-bike outputs remain unconfirmed.
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The final race specification hasn’t been detailed, so it’s too early to say how much quicker the WorldWCR bikes will be. The one-make format will remain, with riders competing on equivalent machinery and the emphasis firmly on their ability.
THE KIWI CONNECTION
New Zealand has a genuine interest in the championship through Avalon Lewis, formerly Biddle, who has raced in WorldWCR aboard the Yamaha R7. Lewis finished eighth overall in 2025 and returned to the series in 2026.
If she is on the grid again in 2027, the switch to a 675cc triple will give her — along with the rest of the field — a fresh technical challenge. Her 2027 participation has not yet been confirmed.
CREDIT WHERE IT’S DUE
Yamaha has supplied the R7 since WorldWCR launched in 2024, helping the series establish a consistent platform for female riders to compete at world level. CFMOTO now takes on that responsibility, including preparing bikes, supplying parts and providing technical support at events.
The 675SR-R has already appeared in British championship racing, but supporting a full international one-make series is a different test of consistency and reliability.
A MILESTONE, NOT A RACE VICTORY
The deal puts a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer in the role of designated supplier for an FIM World Championship-level one-make series. It also gives CFMOTO a prominent stage for a production-based motorcycle using its own three-cylinder engine.
But supplying identical bikes to a championship isn’t the same thing as beating rival manufacturers on track. The real measure will be how well the 675SR-R works for the riders, and whether it delivers close, dependable racing throughout the season.
For WorldWCR fans — and especially those following Lewis from New Zealand — 2027 is shaping up as an interesting new chapter.
To follow WorldWCR, head to the official WorldWCR news page for the latest news and race updates.
