Yamaha Celebrates 60 years of GP racing with retro livery

To celebrate 60 years of motorcycle racing at the very highest level, the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Test Team sported a retro livery at the Losail International Circuit today. Test rider Cal Crutchlow’s Yamaha YZR-M1 was resplendent in Yamaha’s iconic red and white colors, which pay tribute to the great Yamaha riders of the past and the present.

Yamaha‘s Grand Prix journey started in 1961 when Yamaha took five riders to Europe, including Fumio Ito and Taneharu Nogushi. The team entered the newly developed 250cc in-line twin RD48 and 125cc single-cylinder RA41 factory bikes in their World Championship. The first race was the French GP, which was round three of the 1961 series.

To honor its 60 year milestone, Yamaha is planning a number of activities and initiatives throughout 2021, although there’s no indication that the team will use the livery in any races, at present.

“I‘m honored to have been chosen to ride the special WGP YZR-M1 with the 60th-anniversary livery today, to pay tribute to the hard work of so many Yamaha riders and employees over these last 60 years,” Crutchlow said. “The bike is striking!”

“I started my MotoGP career in a Yamaha satellite team and also took part in the 50th anniversary celebrations. So, it’s quite special that I am present for both these important milestones for Yamaha. I‘ve recently returned to Yamaha as a test rider after seven years away, and I’m really enjoying the experience. Yamaha‘s passion for motorsports is as fierce as ever and that‘s really motivating.”