REGULAR PADDOCK GOSSIP
RAINEY’S RETURN!
There was hardly a dry eye in the house when three-time 500cc Grand Prix champion Wayne Rainey was reunited with his 1992 championship-winning YZR500 at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The event marked the first time Rainey, who was paralysed from the chest down in an accident at the 1993 Italian Grand Prix at Misano, had ridden a race bike since his career-ending crash. He has – over the years – ridden converted road machines but thanks to work by Yamaha Motor Company engineers, his 1992 title-winning bike was converted so Wayne could ride it, using a gear-shift system on the left handlebar.
Rainey was not alone for this emotional event. He was joined ‘up the hill’ by Marlboro Yamaha Team Roberts boss Kenny Roberts Snr, as well as former 500cc rivals Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan. The 1990, 1991 and 1992 champ had a test session on the Thursday before the event, and first rode up the hill to applause from onlookers. He then did two runs each on Friday, Saturday and the Sunday in front of packed crowds.
Rainey said: “I
