Rainey to ride YZR500 again

Thirty years after he won the 1992 500cc World Championship, Wayne Rainey will ride the very same bike he took to that title when he makes his first appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK this June.

Although paralysed from the chest down since an accident at the 1993 Italian Grand Prix, Rainey will still be able to ride the 1992-spec YZR500, thanks to Yamaha, who have modified the bike by moving the rear brake and gear-shift controls to the handlebars.

Three years ago, Rainey rode a modified YZF-R1 at the Sound of Engine Festival in Japan, so the upcoming Goodwood ride won’t be his first time on a bike since that career-ending accident, but the American says being reunited with his championship-winning machine will make this ride extra special.

“I’m incredibly excited to not only be attending my first Goodwood Festival of Speed, but to be riding my 1992 Yamaha YZR500 up the famous hillclimb," Rainey said.

"It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and one that I just couldn’t pass up. I want to thank the Yamaha Motor Company for preparing my 1992 YZR500 and adapting it for me to ride, MotoAmerica for helping make the entire project fly and The Duke of Richmond for making this a reality.

"I can’t wait to meet the fans who come from all over the world for the Goodwood Festival of Speed.”

The theme for this year’s Festival of Speed, ‘The Innovators – Masterminds of Motorsport’, could well apply to Rainey, given his smooth, fluid riding style that made an immediate impression when he first rode in the 500cc World Championship in 1988. A race-winner on the YZR500 in that debut year, Rainey would win the 500cc World Championship for three consecutive years from 1990 and was on track for a fourth title in 1993 before the fateful accident at Misano.

“The thought of Wayne riding the legendary 1992 Factory YZR500 bike that he rode to his final championship victory is something truly amazing that I for one never imagined could be possible,” said Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing.

“I know it will mean so much to Wayne, and it will be something truly special for all the fans at Goodwood and all around the world. We are proud to be able to support Wayne make his dream come true.”

This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed will be held on 23-26 June.