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To understand the present, you have to have an in-depth knowledge of the past, one's origins, and history. So, since 2021, Yamaha has decided to embark on a project called the Yamaha Racing Heritage Club: a program dedicated to owners of racing motorcycles from the Iwata constructor who can register these magnificent machines in the YRHC database and become members of a decidedly exclusive club.
The YRHC is not only about motorcycles. It also aims to bring together riders who helped write Yamaha's name in history books with bikes that have helped them achieve their greatest success. Moreover, bringing together these legendary riders and their iconic motorcycles with Yamaha's current roster of talent, allows a whole new generation of fans to experience firsthand the passion, determination, and technology that defined past eras.
During its inaugural year in 2022, the YRHC focused on celebrating Yamaha's successes in road racing, participating in events such as the ASI Motoshow in Italy, the Sachsenring Classic in Germany, and the CRMC Classic Motorcycle Festival in England, as well as documenting the exciting reunion of three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey and his title-winning 1992 YZR500 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. In addition to being present at some of the biggest classic events in Europe in 2023, and making its debut at the Yamaha Racing Experience at Mugello, the YRHC expanded its program by participating in events dedicated to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the YZ range of motocross bikes.
In 2024, the YRHC intends to honor several historic anniversaries, such as the 60th anniversary of Yamaha's first World Championship, when Phil Read captured the title in the 250 class in 1964 riding the legendary RD56; the 50th anniversary of the when the15th World Champion, Agostini, joined the constructor and of his first title with the brand; the 40th anniversary of Sarron's 250 World Championship in 1984; the 25th anniversary of the YZF-R7's debut; the 25th anniversary of the YZF-R6's first WorldSSP victory ... and much more.
To commemorate these milestones, Agostini and Sarron will take to the track with the YRHC during the Sunday Ride Classic at the Circuit Paul Ricard on May 18th and 19th, before the duo joins two-time World Champion Johnny Cecotto for the Coupes Moto Legende at the Circuit de Dijon-Prenois on May 24th to 26th. Following its success of 2023, the YRHC will once again be an integral part of the Yamaha Racing Experience (YRE) that, this year, will be hosted at the Circuit de Jerez - Ángel Nieto on July 3rd and 4th.
This exclusive event will be attended by nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi who'll be joined by six-time World Superbike Champion Rea and the rest of the current World SBK riders, including Andrea Locatelli, Remy Gardner and Dominique Aegerter, with a number of special guests yet to be announced. Invited YRHC members will not only have the opportunity to ride at the Jerez circuit alongside these modern heroes on classic two-stroke bikes, but they'll also enjoy the entire Yamaha Racing Experience. To bring the curtain down on an exciting year, the YRHC will return to the Veterans Motocross des Nations (VMXoN) in Foxhills (UK) on August 22nd to 25th, with three-time World Champion Alessio Chiodi, once again the star of the show, along with a exhibit of historic Yamaha off-road bikes.
Do you own a classic Yamaha racing motorcycle? If you do, the YHRC is open to all types of motorcycle owners. As far as Grand Prix racing is concerned, eligible motorcycles are those that raced between 1955 and the end of the 500cc two-stroke era in 2003, as well as the TZ125 and TZ250 up to 2009. World Superbike and World Endurance Championship motorcycles can enter if they raced in any of the classes from 1985 to 2009. As for the off-road world, the YRHC is open to motocross bikes that raced before 1998 and Paris Dakar bikes that raced in Africa before 2007.
If you're interested in participating, registering your bike in the database and becoming a member of the YRHC is even easier thanks to a brand new portal. Just click here to start the registration process.
Paolo Pavesio, Marketing & Motorsport Director, Yamaha Motor Europe, commented: "The YRHC has grown more and more since its launch in 2021, and this year is no exception. We're delighted to be able to share Yamaha's history with our passionate and loyal fans. Plus, we've made it even easier to become a member with a new online registration portal. We have an exciting schedule of events for 2024, both on-road and off-road, to help us celebrate a historic year for Yamaha, with several important anniversaries. The YRHC not only helps us honor the past, but by bringing together our legendary riders and bikes from years past with our current roster of riding talent, it allows us to introduce Yamaha's rich and illustrious racing heritage to a whole new audience."
