Yamaha YZR500
Encyclopedia
The YZR500 was the Yamaha Motor Corporation’s entry for 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing
between the years of 1973 and 2002.
(1975
), Kenny Roberts
(1978
, 1979
, 1980
), Eddie Lawson
(1984
, 1986
, 1988
) and Wayne Rainey
(1990
, 1991
, 1992
).
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
between the years of 1973 and 2002.
Successes
Riders who rode it to world championships are Giacomo AgostiniGiacomo Agostini
-Non-riding career:Like John Surtees and Mike Hailwood before him, Agostini raced in Formula One cars. He competed in non-championship Formula One races in 1978. He competed in the European Formula 2 series in a Chevron B42-BMW and British Aurora Formula 1 with his own team and a Williams FW06...
(1975
1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 27th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1975 represented a changing of the guard in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, both for riders as well as machines. Giacomo Agostini would claim his final 500cc World Championship...
), Kenny Roberts
Kenny Roberts
Kenneth Leroy Roberts is a former motorcycle racer and racing team owner. In 1978, he became the first American to win a Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship. He was also a two-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship...
(1978
1978 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1978 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 30th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:There was an air of excitement at the start of the 1978 Grand Prix season. The popularity of defending champion, Barry Sheene had boosted the appeal of motorcycle racing into the...
, 1979
1979 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1979 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 31st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:A season of changing fortunes in the 500cc class saw American, Kenny Roberts capture his second crown in the face of the Suzuki-mounted opposition. In the 50cc class, Eugenio...
, 1980
1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 32nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Yamaha's Kenny Roberts claimed his third successive 500cc world championship in a season shortened by the cancellations of the Venezuelan and Austrian rounds. Randy Mamola took...
), Eddie Lawson
Eddie Lawson
Eddie Lawson is a former four-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion. His penchant for not crashing & consistently finishing in the points earned him the nickname "Steady Eddie".-Biography:...
(1984
1984 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1984 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 36th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Defending champion Freddie Spencer was the pre-season favorite to win the championship however, teething problems with Honda's new V4 and early season injuries squelched his hopes...
, 1986
1986 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1986 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 38th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:A second world championship for the consistent Eddie Lawson. After a dominating 1985 season, the future looked bright for Honda's Freddie Spencer. However, once the season started,...
, 1988
1988 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1988 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 40th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Eddie Lawson would recapture the championship from Wayne Gardner in a season that witnessed several fierce duels. Two newcomers joined the Grand Prix circuit with Americans Wayne...
) and Wayne Rainey
Wayne Rainey
Wayne Wesley Rainey, born in Downey, California, United States, is a former American Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he won the 500cc World Championship three times and the Daytona 200 once. He was characterized by his smooth, calculating riding...
(1990
1990 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1990 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 42nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1990 marked the beginning of the Rainey era with the Marlboro-Yamaha rider taking 7 wins and scoring points in every race but Hungary after he had already clinched the championship...
, 1991
1991 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1991 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 43rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:The beginning of the 1990s marked a golden age for Grand Prix motorcycle racing. The rivalry between Wayne Rainey and Kevin Schwantz was in full flow while Mick Doohan started to...
, 1992
1992 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1992 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 44th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1992 was a year marked by injuries to several riders, most notably Mick Doohan. The Rothmans Honda rider had won five of the first seven races and seemed ready to win his first...
).
Chronology
| Year | Model | Constructor's championship |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 1973 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1973 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 25th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:MV Agusta team-mates Phil Read and Giacomo Agostini battled it out for supremacy of the 500cc class but the season was overshadowed by the deaths of Jarno Saarinen and Renzo... |
OW20: Liquid-cooled, inline-4, 2-stroke engine, chromoly frame. Yamaha’s first 500cc factory bike won from the outset at the first round of the 1973 season 1973 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1973 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 25th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:MV Agusta team-mates Phil Read and Giacomo Agostini battled it out for supremacy of the 500cc class but the season was overshadowed by the deaths of Jarno Saarinen and Renzo... , ridden by Jarno Saarinen Jarno Saarinen Jarno Karl Keimo Saarinen was a Finnish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is the only Finn to win a road racing World Championship.- Career :... . |
2nd |
| 1974 1974 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1974 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 26th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:MV Agusta and Phil Read claimed a second successive 500cc crown. It would be the Italian firm's last world championship and their seventeenth 500cc title in a row. Giacomo Agostini... |
OW23: Yamaha’s first machine created specifically for 500cc racing. Yamaha won their first 500cc constructor’s championship with it and in 1975 Giacomo Agostini Giacomo Agostini -Non-riding career:Like John Surtees and Mike Hailwood before him, Agostini raced in Formula One cars. He competed in non-championship Formula One races in 1978. He competed in the European Formula 2 series in a Chevron B42-BMW and British Aurora Formula 1 with his own team and a Williams FW06... rode the revised OW26 to a world championship as well as giving Yamaha their second 500cc constructor’s championship. |
1st |
| 1975 1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 27th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1975 represented a changing of the guard in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, both for riders as well as machines. Giacomo Agostini would claim his final 500cc World Championship... |
1st | |
| 1976 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 28th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1976 marked the beginning of the era of Suzuki domination with the Japanese firm taking 11 of the first 12 places in the premier class. Angel Nieto would take his fifth world title... |
2nd | |
| 1977 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 29th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Suzuki saw off a strong challenge from Yamaha to take their second consecutive 500cc crown. Angel Nieto made it three 50cc titles in a row on a Bultaco while Morbidelli would win... |
OW35: Changes were made to the valve intake system, stroke ratio Stroke ratio In a reciprocating piston engine, the stroke ratio, defined by either bore/stroke ratio or stroke/bore ratio, is a term which is used to describe the ratio between the diameter of the cylinder bore and the length of the piston stroke within its cylinders... and carburator. |
2nd |
| OW35K: Introduction of Yamaha’s Power Valve System (YPVS). Kenny Roberts Kenny Roberts Kenneth Leroy Roberts is a former motorcycle racer and racing team owner. In 1978, he became the first American to win a Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship. He was also a two-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship... won his first of three championships with it. |
||
| 1978 1978 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1978 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 30th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:There was an air of excitement at the start of the 1978 Grand Prix season. The popularity of defending champion, Barry Sheene had boosted the appeal of motorcycle racing into the... |
2nd | |
| 1979 1979 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1979 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 31st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:A season of changing fortunes in the 500cc class saw American, Kenny Roberts capture his second crown in the face of the Suzuki-mounted opposition. In the 50cc class, Eugenio... |
OW45 | 2nd |
| 1980 1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 32nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Yamaha's Kenny Roberts claimed his third successive 500cc world championship in a season shortened by the cancellations of the Venezuelan and Austrian rounds. Randy Mamola took... |
OW48: Introduction of an aluminum frame to the YZR500. | 2nd |
| OW48R: At round 4 of the season, the YZR500 returned to a steel frame, and the engine had rear-directional exhaust. | ||
| 1981 1981 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1981 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 33rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Suzuki riders Marco Lucchinelli and Randy Mamola battled it out to the final race of the season with the Italian rider claiming the crown and Mamola finishing runner-up for the... |
OW53: Same rear-directional exhaust as the OW48R, and the aluminum frame used a squared cross-section. Last inline-4 YZR500. | 2nd |
| OW54: Square-4 engine, rotary disc valve. | ||
| 1982 1982 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1982 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 34th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Italian Franco Uncini on the Roberto Gallina backed Suzuki took a well-earned championship in the 500cc class. Yamaha introduced a new V4 bike for Kenny Roberts but suffered from... |
OW60 | 2nd |
| OW61: The first V4 engine V4 engine A V4 engine is a V form engine with four cylinders and three main bearings.-Automobile use:Lancia produced several narrow-angle V4 engines from the 1920s through 1960s for cars like the Lambda, Augusta, Artena, Aprilia, Ardea, Appia, and Fulvia.... in a 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle. Also had a new frame structure that was the basis for the Deltabox frame, which was developed by Spanish engineer Antonio Cobas Antonio Cobas Antonio Cobas was a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle designer, constructor and mechanic who built world championship winning motorcycles... . |
||
| 1983 1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 35th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:The 1983 battle for 500 cc supremacy between Honda's Freddie Spencer and Yamaha's Kenny Roberts would be one of the most dramatic seasons since the 1967 duel between Giacomo... |
OW70: Introduction of the aluminum Deltabox frame and designed specifically for a 17-inch front wheel (from 18 inches). | 2nd |
| 1984 1984 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1984 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 36th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Defending champion Freddie Spencer was the pre-season favorite to win the championship however, teething problems with Honda's new V4 and early season injuries squelched his hopes... |
OW76: Crankcase reed valve system. Eddie Lawson Eddie Lawson Eddie Lawson is a former four-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion. His penchant for not crashing & consistently finishing in the points earned him the nickname "Steady Eddie".-Biography:... wins the rider championship with it. |
2nd |
| 1985 1985 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1985 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 37th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Honda's Freddie Spencer gave a dominating performance becoming the first man to win the 250 and 500 championships in the same year. Defending champion Eddie Lawson finished in... |
OW81: Re-designed V-4 engine. Eddie Lawson Eddie Lawson Eddie Lawson is a former four-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion. His penchant for not crashing & consistently finishing in the points earned him the nickname "Steady Eddie".-Biography:... won the rider's championship with it. |
2nd |
| 1986 1986 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1986 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 38th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:A second world championship for the consistent Eddie Lawson. After a dominating 1985 season, the future looked bright for Honda's Freddie Spencer. However, once the season started,... |
1st | |
| 1987 1987 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1987 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 39th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Wayne Gardner became Australia's first-ever 500cc World Champion in a season that saw him score points in every Grand Prix. Randy Mamola would finish second yet again, one point... |
OW86: Improvements to the exhaust and cooling systems. | 1st |
| 1988 1988 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1988 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 40th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Eddie Lawson would recapture the championship from Wayne Gardner in a season that witnessed several fierce duels. Two newcomers joined the Grand Prix circuit with Americans Wayne... |
OW98: A new exhaust layout of both pipes going under the engine and out the right side required an asymmetrical swingarm. Eddie Lawson Eddie Lawson Eddie Lawson is a former four-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion. His penchant for not crashing & consistently finishing in the points earned him the nickname "Steady Eddie".-Biography:... won the rider's championship on it. |
1st |
| 1989 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 41st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Defending champion Eddie Lawson stunned most observers by switching from the Yamaha to Honda in the offseason then proceeded to win the championship, becoming the first man to win... |
OWA8: Introduction of a data-recording device. | 2nd |
| 1990 1990 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1990 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 42nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1990 marked the beginning of the Rainey era with the Marlboro-Yamaha rider taking 7 wins and scoring points in every race but Hungary after he had already clinched the championship... |
OWC1: Wayne Rainey Wayne Rainey Wayne Wesley Rainey, born in Downey, California, United States, is a former American Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he won the 500cc World Championship three times and the Daytona 200 once. He was characterized by his smooth, calculating riding... won his first rider's championship on it. |
1st |
| 1992 1992 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1992 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 44th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1992 was a year marked by injuries to several riders, most notably Mick Doohan. The Rothmans Honda rider had won five of the first seven races and seemed ready to win his first... |
OWE0: In the latter-half of the season, Yamaha introduced their own "big-bang" firing order Big-bang firing order A big bang engine is an unconventional motorcycle engine designed so that most of the power strokes occur simultaneously or in close succession. This is achieved by changing the ignition timing; sometimes in combination with a change in crankpin angle. The goal is to change the power delivery... to the YZR500. Third championship for Wayne Rainey Wayne Rainey Wayne Wesley Rainey, born in Downey, California, United States, is a former American Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he won the 500cc World Championship three times and the Daytona 200 once. He was characterized by his smooth, calculating riding... . |
2nd |
| 1993 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 45th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Kevin Schwantz won the 1993 world championship in a season marred by the tragic end to his rival Wayne Rainey's career. Schwantz started the season strong with four wins by the... |
OWF2: An extruded aluminum frame was designed to resist flex from increased power output, though Wayne Rainey Wayne Rainey Wayne Wesley Rainey, born in Downey, California, United States, is a former American Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he won the 500cc World Championship three times and the Daytona 200 once. He was characterized by his smooth, calculating riding... complains that it is too stiff, and in round 8 Rainey switches to a chassis used by Team ROC. |
1st |
| 1994 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 46th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1994 was the year in which Honda's Mick Doohan began to stamp his authority on the Grand Prix world. Honda's Longtime sponsor Rothmans left Honda to join Williams Renault in... |
OWF9: Re-design of the fairing and introduction of ram-air intake Ram-air intake A ram-air intake is any intake design which uses the dynamic air pressure created by vehicle motion to increase the static air pressure inside of the intake manifold on an engine, thus allowing a greater massflow through the engine and hence increasing engine power.The ram air intake works by... . |
3rd |
| 1995 1995 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1995 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 47th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Honda's Mick Doohan captured his second consecutive 500cc crown in 1995. Suzuki's Daryl Beattie had an early season points lead but crashed and injured himself in practice at... |
3rd | |
| 1996 1996 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1996 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 48th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Honda's Mick Doohan continued his domination of the 500 class with 8 victories. His Repsol Honda team-mate, Àlex Crivillé beat him to the line twice in Austria and the Czech Republic... |
OWJ1: New alloy for the engine and new design for the frame. | 2nd |
| 1997 1997 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1997 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 49th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:A fourth world championship in a row for Honda's Mick Doohan with another dominating performance. He broke Giacomo Agostini's record for victories in one season with 12 wins. It... |
OWH0: The "V" was widened to allow a larger air box. The OWJ1 and OWH0 were developed simultaneously and used in reverse order during the season. | 2nd |
| 1998 1998 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1998 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 50th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Mick Doohan and Honda continued to dominate the 500 class with the Australian taking 8 victories and Honda winning all but one race. Simon Crafar winning the British Grand Prix for... |
OWK1: Move to unleaded fuel. | 2nd |
| 1999 1999 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1999 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 51st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:The dominant reign of Honda's Mick Doohan came to an end with serious injuries suffered in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix. In his absence, his Honda team-mate Àlex Crivillé... |
2nd | |
| 2000 2000 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 2000 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 52nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Kenny Roberts, Jr. fulfilled the promise of his 2nd place in 1999 by winning the championship for 2000 with 2 races to spare... |
OWK6: General improvements to the engine, frame and cowl. | 1st |
| 2001 2001 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season This article recaps the 2001 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season.-Season summary:2001 was the end of the 500 cc era in Grand Prix motorcycle racing; in 2002 the premier class would be renamed MotoGP and dominated by 4-stroke 990 cc machines. However, 2001 was the beginning of another era, that of... |
OWL6 | 2nd |
| 2002 2002 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 2002 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 54th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. The season consist of 16 races, which started with the Japanese Grand Prix on 7 April and ended with the Valencian Community Grand Prix on 3 November.... |
OWL9: The 28th and last generation of the YZR500 had to compete against the newly allowed 4-stroke machines. | 2nd |