Launched at EICMA in 2021, the Yamaha Racing Heritage Club (YRHC) was set up to safeguard and celebrate the manufacturer's rich racing legacy by providing owners of classic race bikes a chance to become members, register their bikes on the official database, and receive advanced technical support.
The YRHC enjoyed an impressive first season in 2022, giving fans a chance to relive the two-stroke racing era at a number of events throughout the year with legends such as 15-time World Champion Giacomo Agostini, Yamaha’s first-ever World Champion and most successful rider of all time in terms of titles Phil Read, two-time 250cc World Champion Carlos Lavado, 1984 250cc World Champion Christian Sarron, and 1973 250cc World Champion Dieter Braun, to name but a few.
Alongside these heroes from yesteryear, Yamaha riders from the modern era like Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Official Team’s Andrea Locatelli, 2012 Moto3 and 2018 WorldSSP World Champion Sandro Cortese, Yamalube YART Yamaha Official EWC Team Marvin Fritz, and 2021 British Superbike Champion Tarran “Taz” Mackenzie, also took part as they hit the track on some iconic two-stroke race bikes alongside their heroes.
One of the major highlights of 2022 was three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey emotionally riding his title-winning 1992 YZR500 up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed for the first time since his career-ending accident in Misano.