Rainey Returns to the Saddle for the Festival of Speed

Wayne Rainey was a sensation on the 500cc World GP circuit in the early 1990s. His battles with Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Gardner, and Mick Doohan were legendary. He rode his skills and a Yamaha YZR500 to a three-peat of titles in 90, 91, and 92.  

In 1993 his career was cut short with a crash at the Italian GP at Misano that saw the Californian paralyzed from the chest down. That may have stopped his racing but it didn’t stop his love of motorcycling or his involvement in the sport. His is now president of MotoAmerica, which promotes the AMA Superbike series in the U.S.

Rainey, 61, and his 30-year-old championship winning race bike will ride once again this summer when he takes to Goodwood Hill for the famous hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed at Chichester, West Sussex.

“I’m incredibly excited to not only be attending my first Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer, 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 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 is ‘The Innovators – Masterminds of Motorsport’ and this reunion of man and machine fits the bill perfectly. Yamaha Motor Company applied its technical skills to reconfiguring the YZR500 so Rainey can ride it with hand controls only.

“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. 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,” said Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl.

Rainey rode a modified Yamaha R1 in 2019 at the Sound of Engine Festival at Suzuka in Japan.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place 23 to 26 June.