The ride up the famous Goodwood Hill will be the first time Rainey has been aboard a racing motorcycle since his career-ending accident in the 1993 Italian Grand Prix, and follows his return to riding a motorcycle at the 2019 Sound of Engine Festival at Suzuka.
Wayne Rainey was one of the biggest names in motorcycle racing at in the early 1990s, with his battles against Kevin Schwantz going down in history as one of the fiercest rivalries to ever grace the Grand Prix scene. Racing in an era that saw him go up against fellow Grand Prix legends such as Schwantz, Mick Doohan, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Gardner, Rainey cemented himself as one of the best riders in Grand Prix history winning three championships back-to-back-to-back, and was en route to a fourth before his accident at Misano.
“I’m incredibly excited to not only be attending my first Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer, but to be riding my 1992 Yamaha YZR500 up the famous hillclimb,” enthused Rainey. “It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and one that I just couldn’t pass up. I want to thank the Yamaha Motor Company for preparing my 1992 YZR500 and adapting it for me to ride, MotoAmerica for helping make the entire project fly, and The Duke of Richmond for really making this a reality. I can’t wait to meet the fans who come from all over the world for the Goodwood Festival of Speed.”