Wayne Rainey Rides Again
Three-time World Champion rides Laguna Seca on modified Yamaha XSR900 GP
For racing fans in the late '80s and early '90s, the site of Wayne Rainey going down the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca on a red and white Yamaha was a familiar site. Thanks to the efforts of Yamaha Motor Europe, we were able to relive that memory with Rainey returning to the saddle, riding a modified Yamaha XSR900 GP at Laguna Seca.
The three-time 500cc World Champion led a parade lap of several other racing icons as part of MotoAmerica's event this weekend at the storied track, where Rainey tasted victory in 1989, 1990 and 1991. This was just the third time Rainey has ridden a bike, and the first time at Laguna Seca, since his accident in 1993 that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Yamaha Motor Europe presented Rainey with this XSR900 GP, a model styled after the YZR500 he raced on, but customized to allow him to ride it. This involved adding supports to provide Rainey a steady riding position and the Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission (Y-AMT).
Rainey's XSR900 GP is the only known example in the world to be equipped with Y-AMT, and, as Yamaha Motor U.S.A. doesn't include it in its lineup, it might be first to make its way to America. And hopefully not the last.
Begin Press Release:
Custom-Build Yamaha XSR900 GP Honours Rainey's Riding Return
In celebration of a racing legend, on 11th July, Yamaha Motor Europe has presented a unique custom-built XSR900 GP model to 3-time 500cc World Champion, Wayne Rainey in close collaboration with Yamaha Motor US.
The occasion marked Rainey's third time riding Yamaha machinery since his race career-ending accident in 1993. During that time, the racing legend has remained loyal to the Japanese manufacturer, riding nothing but Yamaha since the time of his accident.
Following the European debut of the XSR900 GP, which featured and celebrated Wayne Rainey in the launch video, Wayne was set to receive one of the first models produced. However, he and the Yamaha Motor Europe team continued to dream, contemplating how to enable Wayne to ride the motorcycle designed in the likeness of the ones he raced in the past.
Crafted with the heartfelt goal of assisting him on his journey back onto two wheels, a custom tribute has been assembled to celebrate Yamaha’s deep and historic bond with the former Grand Prix rider and current MotoAmerica President.
Blending performance with ease of use, the one-of-a-kind purpose-built XSR900 GP model features Yamaha’s all-new and innovative Y-AMT (Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission) technology, meticulously crafted by a team of engineers and designers at Yamaha Motor Europe to ensure a comfortable and confident ride. Besides the application of Y-AMT, the XSR900 GP has also been fitted with several adaptations, serving to support Rainey with a steady planted seating position.
The world-renowned XSR900 GP, inspired by Rainey’s championship-winning machines, has been modified with a black Deltabox-style frame to offer an aggressive and stealth-like aesthetic, with black wheels also added to reinforce a sleek and purposeful look, mimicking in full the aesthetics of Rainey’s trusted YZR500.
The model was officially presented to Rainey during a circuit-organised honorary event at Laguna Seca Raceway on 11–13 July; the weekend that has played host to Round 5 of the 2025 MotoAmerica championship.
A parade lap, led by the 3-time World Champion aboard the XSR900 GP and in conjunction with several riders, legends and the California Highway Patrol Motorcycle Officers, has taken place during this weekend, making for a memorable showcase of Yamaha machinery and technology.
The parade lap has marked Rainey’s first return to the historic Laguna Seca Raceway since the 1991 US Grand Prix, where he secured pole position, dominating the race, and secured victory by 6.9 seconds in front of a passionate home crowd.
A great feeling of nostalgia flooded the circuit as the racing legend returned to the asphalt yet again, at one of the most recognised circuits in not just America, but the world.
Rainey’s last public appearance on two wheels took place in 2022 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where Yamaha Motor modified his 1992 title-winning YZR500, relocating the rear brake and gear shifter to the handlebars to accommodate his individual riding needs.
With another memorable return to two wheels in 2025, the racing world and Laguna Seca crowds awaited with anticipation, eager to get another glimpse of the former 500cc rider in the saddle and back in the place that saw him lay the foundations of a generation-defining reputation.
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Geat story. Admire Rainey's love of the sport. He was determined to keep going foward. That is why He and Kenny Roberts will always be my heroes. How can you forget watching him speed woble at 170 and stay on the gas!
I saw Rainey’s crash into what looked like a bed of gravel, and waited for him to remount and get to it, but he didn’t. A whole new world of catheters, infections, and the bone density of balsa. I was rear ended by a Suburban, ran crossways over my back, and pushed all my now broken ribs through my lungs. I coded out at old country in East LA, but a doctor on the loading dock saved my life with chest tubes, and the paddles. Burst fractures from T7 through T12. In various hospitals and nursing homes for a year. Held together with cadaver ribs and self tapping 7/16 bolts. That was December 21st at 1530 on Burbank Boulevard. On my Buell City cross. It got broken in half at the steering head.
There will always be worse things than dying.