Part of Wayne Rainey’s poignant return to the Misano circuit after 18 years, also included a visit to Yamaha Motor Racing HQ at Gerno di Lesmo where the legendary rider spent a day touring the site along with Yamaha MotoGP riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies and where he opened the Wayne Rainey Boardroom that Yamaha officially dedicated to him.

Before the race, Rainey took a special lap of the circuit by open top car (check out the video after the jump) to a standing ovation from the thousands of (uncouth and rowdy) race fans around the track. He then watched Jorge Lorenzo take the win and was on the podium with the Spaniard, who dedicated his victory to the former rider. Rainey also accepted the manufacturer’s trophy on behalf of Yamaha.

“It’s been a great experience spending some time here at the headquarters,” said Wayne Rainey. “It’s fascinating to get an insight into what happens away from the track and what it takes to run a successful modern team. I’ve been overwhelmed with the positive reception from the all the people here. It was also a wonderful weekend in Misano, Yamaha welcomed me so warmly and it was very special for Shae and I to meet up with so many old friends and familiar faces. I’m honoured to be part of the Yamaha family and will be back again!”

Continue reading: Wayne Rainey visits Yamaha HQ at Gerno di Lesmo

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After 18 years from that almost fatal September 5, 1993, Wayne Rainey will be returning to the Misano circuit for the first time to see next weekend’s Misano GP and will be present in the paddock on Friday September 2nd from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm with Yamaha organizing a special event for this unforgettable rider.

The former three times World Champion will find that the circuit is no longer called Santamonica, but Misano World Circuit and the races are now held in the opposite direction.

Rainey’s career ending crash will be forever etched in racing fans minds when the American crashed out at over 120mph at turn one, sliding out at highspeed and then began tumbing over and over into the rutted gravel before finally stopping, when his own bike seemed to hit him in the back. Rainey ended up with a fractured sixth thoracic vertebra and a paraplegic, but he survived and is still one of the greatest racing legends alive.

Bentornato Wayne. Welcome back Wayne.

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Gran Prix legend Wayne Gardner has uploaded on his Youtube channel the entire 1989 US 500 GP race at the famed Laguna Seca circuit.

The race saw Gardner crash out while fighting for third and break his leg while Wayne Rainey on his Roberts Lucky Strike Yamaha would take a very comfortable win, but it also includes in part 2 what American journos have called the worst USGP ever because of what happened to Bubba Shobert on the cool down lap that ended the American’s racing career that day.

Part 2 after the jump.

Continue reading: 1989 US 500 GP Race Videos

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Valentino Rossi, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey and Kenny Roberts, 18 GP world titles between them, completed a series of Superkart demonstration laps at the spectacular Laguna Seca circuit.

It was supposed to be part of those events for the Mazda Speedway that leads into this weekend’s GP race, but it turned out to be a mini race with the Italian rider coming out on top over the Americans by 15 seconds on a one lap sprint.

The Grand Marshal was Colin Edwards.

Continue reading: Lawson, Roberts, Rainey and Rossi having fun at Laguna Seca

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Four Yamaha World Champions with 17 world titles between them, are going to get together for a SuperKart Exhibition, one of the events organized at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the U.S. Red Bull MotoGP weekend July 3rd -5th 2009.

Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts Sr. and Valentino Rossi who will all be on TZ250 race karts owned by Rainey and Lawson and prepped by Rainey’s father Sandy.

Rossi, Rainey and Lawson all have kart racing experience, infact Lawson won the Superstars of Superkarts race at Laguna Seca last year. Lawson’s fastest lap in the race was a 1:23.924, while Casey Stoner ‘s fast lap in the epic 2008 Laguna Seca race was 1:21.488.

Continue reading: Lawson, Rainey, Roberts and Rossi to Kart at Laguna

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The Transatlantic 1987 Race 2 at Brands Hatch is rightly considered one of the top 20 greatest motorcycle races -ever.

Kevin Schwantz and Wayne Rainey, close racing and exchanging paint between a Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750 and an American Honda VFR750 and guys it doesn’t get more exciting than this.

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