Wayne Rainey rides again!

26 years after Wayne Rainey’s career-ending injury, the three-time world champion has returned to riding with an emotional comeback using a modified Yamaha.

The Grand Prix legend made history by clinching three consecutive 500cc world championship titles between 1990 and 1992 with Yamaha before suffering a smashed sixth thoracic vertebra and a broken spine in a crash during the 1993 Italian GP at Misano which left him paralysed from the middle of the chest down.

Wayne Rainey, Yamaha,
Wayne Rainey, Yamaha,

26 years after Wayne Rainey’s career-ending injury, the three-time world champion has returned to riding with an emotional comeback using a modified Yamaha.

The Grand Prix legend made history by clinching three consecutive 500cc world championship titles between 1990 and 1992 with Yamaha before suffering a smashed sixth thoracic vertebra and a broken spine in a crash during the 1993 Italian GP at Misano which left him paralysed from the middle of the chest down.

Having remained a key presence in racing since his injury, and is currently the MotoAmerica President, Rainey has taken to the track again using an adapted Yamaha YZF-R1 at the Buttonwillow Raceway in his native California. Rainey, wearing a remake of his iconic red and white racing leathers from Alpinestars, posted his comeback on his personal social media account with support from MotoAmerica.

“I had the opportunity to ride a motorcycle yesterday for the first time in 26 years. And I had a blast. Big thanks to Yamaha Motor USA and Alpinestars for helping make it happen,” Rainey said on social media.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This. Just. Happened. #WayneRaineyRidesAgain. Full video coming soon. @wrainey60

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Rainey won 24 Grand Prix races from 95 starts across his Grand Prix career. 

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