Yamaha Marks 60 Years in Grand Prix Racing - Special Red and White Livery Unveiled at Qatar Test -

March 11, 2021 - Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. joined the premier series of motorcycle road racing in 1961, making 2021 our 60th anniversary in the Grand Prix World Championship. To mark the occasion, we revealed to the world a special YZR-M1 in commemorative 60th anniversary colours at MotoGP’s pre-season Official Test in Qatar ridden by Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow.

The livery adorning this YZR-M1 features Yamaha’s traditional white and red colour scheme used from 1964 and is based on the design for the YZR500 (0W48) raced in the 1980 500cc season. It pays respect to the passion for racing and Spirit of Challenge of the many Yamaha riders and pioneers over the past 60 years, reflects a return to where we started, and a firm commitment to continue our challenge going forward.

In 2021, Yamaha is entering two teams and four riders to compete in the MotoGP World Championship soon to be underway, but Yamaha’s racing teams in championships around the world are also busy with preparations, with each aiming to bring Kando* to fans around the world by battling to victory.

*Kando is a Japanese word for the simultaneous feelings of deep satisfaction and intense excitement that we experience when we encounter something of exceptional value.

Yamaha Grand Prix 60th Anniversary Website https://global.yamaha-motor.com/race/wgp-60th/

Hiroshi Ito, General Manager of Motor Sports Development Division, Motor Sports Section, PF Model Unit

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our fans, sponsors and suppliers for their support, and to our many riders and predecessors who we’ve fought together with for 60 years in our never-ending Grand Prix racing challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has been ongoing since last year and has greatly impacted the world, and the situation still remains severe. Against this backdrop, in February of this year we announced that we would continue to participate in the MotoGP World Championship for another five years, from 2022 to 2026. This 60th anniversary YZR-M1 does more than just look back on the footsteps of our predecessors in a milestone year. It is a sign of our determination to have the same passion they had, to believe in the power of motorsports, and to deliver Kando to the world. Please look forward to Yamaha’s racing campaign in 2021.”