MotoGP legend Wayne Rainey was back on track at Laguna Seca last weekend thanks to a specially modified Yamaha XSR900 GP.
On 11 July, Yamaha Motor Europe and Yamaha Motor US presented a unique custom-built XSR900 GP to three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey.
The occasion marked Rainey’s third time riding Yamaha machinery since his race career-ending accident in 1993.
Crafted with the heartfelt goal of assisting Rainey 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 innovative Y-AMT (Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission) technology. 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 XSR900 GP, with a look 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 YZR500 GP racer.
The model was officially presented to Rainey during a circuit-organised honorary event at Round 5 of the 2025 MotoAmerica championship at Laguna Seca Raceway on 11-13 July.
A parade lap was led by the three-time World Champion aboard the XSR900 GP. It 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 track yet again, at one of the most recognised circuits in 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.
