Founded last year, the Yamaha Racing Heritage Club has already established itself as a major vintage motorcycle organization. The club took to Mugello Circuit last month to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the TZ350 production racer—a highly successful liquid-cooled, two-stroke twin based on Jarno Saarinen’s YZ634 GP bike.
Teaming up with the Yamaha Racing Experience, the Yamaha Racing Heritage Club brought together current motorcycle racing superstars, along with legendary riders of the past and everyday motorcycle riders.
Representing the modern era were 2021 Superbike World Champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, 2020 Supersport World Champion Andrea Locatelli, 2012 and 2022 Supersport World Champion Dominique Aegerter, 2020 Moto2 World Champion Remy Gardner, 2022 British Superbike Champion Bradley Ray, and 2017 Endurance World Champion Niccolò Canepa.
These riders took to the track on historic GP machines, including Eddie Lawson’s 1986 FIM 500cc World Championship-winning YZR500 0W81, Freddie Spencer’s 1993 YZR500, and Christian Sarron’s 1978 TZ750. Replicas of the two-time FIM Formula 750 World Championship-winning YZR750 OW31 were also on the track. Steve Baker rode the OW31 to a title in 1977, and Johnny Cecotto accomplished the feat the following year.
This impressive array of contemporary riders was joined by 1975 FIM 350cc World Champion and 1978 FIM Formula 750 World Champion Johnny Cecotto, and 1983 and 1986 FIM 250cc World Champion Carlos Lavado. The pair of Venezuelan riders threw down some laps on the latest-spec Yamaha YZF-R1M.
“What an event!” Yamaha Motor Europe Director Marketing & Motorsport Palo Pavesio exclaimed. “It is the first time we have invited members of the YRHC to the YRE, and it turned out to be a truly memorable moment. I have rarely seen so many smiling faces, and to see the YRHC members get to ride on track alongside Johnny and Carlos, as well as our today stars from WorldSBK and EWC.”
“It was incredible to see the younger riders try out our legendary two-stroke bikes, and for Carlos and Johnny to get the chance to ride the R1M,” Pavesio continued. “It was a wonderful event that brought together the past and present of Yamaha to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the TZ alongside the 25th anniversary of the R1, and I think it was something extraordinary for the YRHC members to experience. Technology may have moved on a lot, but racers share a similar passion no matter the era they are from, and it was great to see that shared with the YRE customers and YRHC members over the two unforgettable days in Mugello.”
In its 25 years on world championship circuits, the Yamaha YZR-R1 has two FIM Superbike World Championships (2009 with Ben Spies and 2021 with Razgatlıoğlu) and four Suzuki 8 Hours wins.
Photography by Graeme Brown, Matteo Lepri, and Tino Martino
