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.
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.
I had the opportunity to ride a motorcycle yesterday for the first time in 26 years. And I had a blast. Big thanks to @YamahaMotorUSA and @alpinestars for helping make it happen. pic.twitter.com/PcgWjFQ0pG
— Wayne Rainey (@WayneRainey60) November 7, 2019
Rainey won 24 Grand Prix races from 95 starts across his Grand Prix career.
