DOOHAN, SCHWANTZ, ROBERTS TO RIDE AT GOODWOOD

Following February’s announcement that Wayne Rainey would ride his championship-winning 1992 Yamaha YZR 500 at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, it’s been confirmed that the three-time 500cc World Champion will be joined by Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts at the UK event.

In what Goodwood event organisers are describing as a truly historic moment, Rainey will take on the famous Goodwood hillclimb course on his actual YZR500 from the 1992 championship season, which has been modified to allow the paraplegic American to ride.

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“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Goodwood - it’s been a few years since my last visit [and] it will be a very memorable moment to see Wayne back on two wheels,” Doohan said.

“To have raced against him for several years, plus having got close to wrestling a title from him on a couple of occasions in the early ’90s, were very special memories in my career. He and I had a great rivalry, especially ’91 and ’92. Unfortunately for me, Wayne came out on top.

“To be able to ride with him at the Festival of Speed is sensational and it will be a real spectacle to see him back on a bike.”

1993 500cc World Champion, Kevin Schwantz, added: “To ride a 500cc Grand Prix bike alongside Wayne Rainey is something that has really underpinned my whole life. To be able to have that experience again - being so long since Wayne has been on his race bike - for me, is going to be unbelievable.

“I’m so looking forward to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year and getting to see Wayne and taking my family there; it’s something that I’m really excited about.”

While Kenny Roberts’ career precedes that of the others by a decade, the three-time 500cc World Champion says he’s equally enthusiastic about the opportunity to join Rainey at Goodwood.

After an accident at the 1993 Italian Grand Prix, Rainey was paralysed from the chest down, but will be able to ride the 1992 YZR500, thanks to Yamaha, who have modified the bike by moving the rear brake and gear-shift controls to the handlebars.

“Great credit has to go to Yamaha and Lin Jarvis in particular for making this project fly and all the engineers back in Japan who have got the bike running and adapted for Wayne to ride,” Roberts added.

“Wayne’s determination to make this all happen is no surprise. When he has something in his head that he wants to do, it’ll happen and it's a testament to him that two of his greatest rivals, Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan will be present at the festival this year to live this dream with him. I can promise there will not be a dry eye in the house. It’s gonna be some party.”

The 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed runs from 23 to 26 June. For more details, go to: goodwood.com