500GP Legend Rainey rides his YZR again!

From Yamaha Racing:

Three time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey was emotionally reunited with his 1992 title-winning YZR500 0WE0 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this week, the first time he had ridden a two-stroke race bike since his accident in 1993 that left him paralized from the waist down and tragically ending his racing career as a rider.

The Grand Prix bike was specially modified, with the rear brake and gearbox controls moved to the handlebars, which allowed him to change gears by pressing a red button to shift up and pulling the clutch lever to shift down with his left hand, while operating the rear brake with his thumb.

Joining him also on this epic moment for lifelong motorcycle grand prix fans were 500cc rivals from the late 80’s and early 90’s Kevin Schwantz, Mick Doohan as well as his former Marlboro Yamaha team owner Kenny Roberts.

“I was quite nervous about riding the YZR500, as when I rode the R1 it was all quite straightforward as the bikes these days have so much electronics on them but it’s a bit different with a 500cc Grand Prix bike! But, to be honest, it felt like an old friend.  It was always a challenge to race the bike at that level, fighting for race wins and championships, but being here 30 years later, being able to get on the bike and ride it up the hill in a nice, easy gentle setting is fantastic. The bike was there for me back then and it’s there for me today, so I’m thrilled, ” said Rainey after his Goodwood Festival of Speed riding experience .

“I didn’t know what to expect, I couldn’t really go there as I had no idea what it would feel like but when I put my helmet on and they started the bike, I was like ‘it’s on’. Being able to ride up the hill and through the corners, looking down and seeing that I was on my Grand Prix bike again after all those years felt like I was in a completely different world, and to do it alongside those guys, Kenny, Kevin and Mick, I could not have asked more than sharing this experience with them. A huge thank you to the Duke of Richmond for having me and to Yamaha for taking the bike out of the museum and adapting it for me to ride.” 

Rainey and the iconic flourescent and white Marlboro Yamaha livery was an inspiration to many who witness the titanic 2 stroke 500cc GP racing of the 80’s and early 90’s. Rainey was Workd Champion in 1990, 1991 and 1992 on board the Yamaha YZR500.

Source : Yamaha Racing , Goodwood Festival of Speed.

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