Despite being paralysed from the chest down after a crash in 1993, triple 500cc motorcycle world champion Wayne Rainey will ride a motorcycle for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

You Can't Keep a Good Champion Down For Ever

The '80s and '90s were a golden era for Grand Prix motorcycle racing. The 500cc two-strokes had reached a peak of development, matched by chassis technology but completely lacking in any form of electronic riding aids such as traction control.

To say they were tricky to ride would be an understatement but still there were men who could take them to the limit week in, week out and win - not only races but championships.

It was an era that gave us some of the greats of the sport: Schwantz, Gardner, Doohan, Lawson, Spencer and not forgetting three-time world champion, Wayne Rainey. Not only that, but it was a golden era for American success in the 500cc world championship, Schwantz, Lawson, Spencer and Rainey taking ten titles between 1983 and 1993. That's every single year, for those who can't count.

For Rainey, however, 1993 would signal the end of not only his Grand Prix dominance but of his riding career, period. At the 1993 Italian Grand Prix at Misano, Rainey crashed and was paralysed from the chest down. From that moment on, he was confined to a wheelchair and would never ride a motorcycle again.

Until now, that is! The incredible news coming from Goodwood is that Rainey will ride a motorcycle at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS). And, before you think that it will be aboard a tame road bike, think again. Rainey will be riding his 1992 championship-winning YZR500 GP bike. Yamaha has customised the bike to allow Rainey to ride it on the famous hill-climb that runs past the house of Lord March in June.

The festival has a theme each year and this time the theme is 'The Innovators - Masterminds of Motorsport.' Rainey, now 61 is sure to be a huge draw over the weekend as he remains one of the sports greats.

“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 hill climb,” said Rainey, who currently serves as the president of MotoAmerica, in a press release.

“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.”

Over his career, Rainey lit up motorcycle grand prix racing with his battles against Doohan, Lawson and Gardner, although his rivalry with Kevin Schwantz was one of the defining battles of the early '90s.

Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Racing, who was instrumental in Rainey's return, said: “The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an amazing event that is a showcase for two- and four-wheel motorsports legends—both human and mechanical.

“Wayne Rainey is a true motorcycle racing legend who achieved three 500cc World titles with Yamaha before his career-ending accident and injury. The thought of Wayne riding the legendary 1992 factory YZR500 bike that he rode to his final championship victory is something truly amazing, that I for one never imagined could be possible. I know it will mean so much to Wayne, and it will be something truly special for all the fans at Goodwood and all around the world. We are proud to be able to support Wayne make his dream come true.”

The Duke of Richmond also commented: “I am absolutely delighted that Wayne and his family are able to join us at this year’s Festival of Speed and that we will see him take to the Hill on the bike with which he won his last world championship 30 years ago. Every year the Festival showcases spectacular stories from the world of motorsport, and we are privileged that Wayne is sharing his with us this summer.”

This will be Rainey's first ever appearance at a historic festival and we can only hope that it goes well and that we will be seeing Wayne at more events in the future.