Yamaha Racing Heritage Club riding Paul Ricard

Yamaha Racing Heritage Club causes storm at Sunday Ride Classic

The Yamaha Racing Heritage Club is one of the highlights of the Sunday Ride Classic at Circuit Paul Ricard on June 11-12, with legends such as Giacomo Agostini, Carlos Lavado and Christian Sarron entertaining huge crowds alongside fellow riders. their iconic racing bike.

The Yamaha Racing Heritage Club (YRHC) was at the Le Castellet circuit for the second event of four scheduled for 2022, following the ASI Motorshow in Varano, Italy. The fine weather welcomed thousands of fans to the Sunday Ride Classic, with the YRHC stands featuring some of the legendary race bikes from three decades of racing.

The YRHC was founded to protect and celebrate the Japanese manufacturer’s racing history at events like these. It allows owners of classic Yamaha racing bikes to become members and receive cutting-edge technical support by registering their machines on the official YRHC database.

Eric De Seynes – President of Yamaha Motor Europe

“The Sunday Ride Classic was a fantastic event and another success for the YRHC. Fans were able to come and meet their heroes and see some of the iconic racing bikes in action over two days, and it was great to see their enthusiasm. We founded YRHC to benefit passionate owners of historic racing bikes. We aim to not only preserve our racing heritage, but also showcase the stories and legends behind these bikes and provide members with cutting-edge technical support. Plus, it’s our way of connecting with the owners of these bikes, understanding more of what we can do for them, and showing that we’re just as passionate as they are. It’s great to see so many fans, young and old, here at Circuit Paul Ricard, and it shows how passionate everyone is about the history of motorsport. ”

The YRHC celebrated all that the TZ250 is at Circuit Paul Ricard, the production racer who revolutionized the 250cc World Championship. Two-time 250cc world champion, Carlos Lavado showcased his championship-winning Factory YZR250s between 1983 and 1986 and raced on a 1991 TZ250 painted in Yamaha gray Venemotos.

His great rival and friend, 1984 250cc World Champion Christian Sarron, was also present with the TZ250 that carried him to the title, as the two riders regaled fans with stories of their distance. the time they fight in the world arena.

Jean-Louis Tournadre’s 1982 championship-winning 250cc TZ250 was also on display, as was a selection of historic racing bikes brought by the TZ Club of France, including Patrick Pons’ 1974 TZ350. There were also plenty of TZ750s from the 70s ridden by stars like Sarron, Johnny Cecotto, Hubert Rigal and many more, along with Freddie Spencer’s 1993 YZR500 ROC.

It was a weekend to remember for 15-time World Champion Giacomo Agostini, who celebrated his 80th birthday (June 16) by leading the Parade for Yamaha aboard a TZ750D that he drove to the final World Championship victory at Hockenheim in 1977.

The crowd sang him “Happy Birthday” before witnessing more than 30 Yamaha two-stroke racing bikes in action as they reached the track. “Ago” also took time to meet fans and sign autographs at the YRHC stand, to the cheers of the passionate French crowd. The Italian described being hounded by fans and reunited with his bike on his favorite track, “One of the best days ever”.

The YRHC is currently focusing on the next event in the 2022 calendar, the ADAC Sachsenring Classic, taking place July 15-17 in Sachsenring, Germany. The YRHC will also visit Donington Park, UK, on ​​July 30-31 for the CRMC Classic Motorcycle Festival.

Sunday Ride Classic Gallery 2022