Legends and Icons: Valentino Rossi and Jonathan Rea Reignite Two-Stroke Magic at Jerez

Valentino Rossi takes a spin on a classic 500cc two-stroke GP motorcycle for the first time since 2001

Retro Yamahas make a return on an extraordinary track day

Valentino Rossi and Jonathan Rea spent a day on the track together, reviving classic Yamaha motorcycles.

Nine-time world champion and MotoGP icon Rossi, along with six-time World Superbikes titleholder Rea, were accompanied by three-time champion Luca Cadalora.

Rea’s Yamaha teammate in the World Superbike Championship, Andrea Locatelli, along with two-time World Supersport champion Dominique Aegerter, were also participating on the track.

Yamaha's FIM Endurance World Champions, including Niccolò Canepa, Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz, and Robin Mulhauser, teamed up with a group of top-tier riders.

Vintage Yamahas return to the circuit

Yamaha showcased a selection of their legendary two-stroke motorcycles from the last 20 years at the Jerez track day.

Eddie Lawson's YZR500 motorcycles – the 1986 0W81, with which he clinched the championship, and the 1987 0W86 – drew attention.

Cadalora’s 1990 YZR250 0WB9 was stored in the garage as well.

Classic Max Biaggi motorcycles were on display as well. Copies of Biaggi’s 2001 YZR500 0WL6, including one decorated in Alex Hoffman’s colors, were very popular.

Three YRHC TZ750 replicas were even more nostalgic. One YZR750 was a tribute to the motorcycle that Giacomo Agostini rode to his last victory in 1977. Another paid homage to Christian Sarron's 1977 Formula 750 Championship win, while the third honored Johnny Cecotto's Formula 750 title triumph in 1978.

Valentino Rossi quickly got on Lawson's 1986 YZR500, experiencing a 500cc two-stroke Grand Prix motorcycle for the first time since the start of MotoGP's four-stroke period in 2002.

Rea took a ride on Lawson's 1987 0W86 while Cadalora was on a YZR250, resulting in an extraordinary and captivating scene as three Yamaha two-stroke motorcycles, all decked out in white and red, raced around the Jerez track.

Rea described the experience of riding the YZR500s with Valentino right ahead of him as a surreal, unforgettable moment.

Rea took a ride on the TZ750, a replica of Agostini's bike, which evoked nostalgic feelings. He remarked, "Riding the Giacomo Agostini TZ750 was a significant experience for me. My father used to own one, and he also supported Joey Dunlop when he raced with it, making the moment quite emotional."

Locatelli rode Biaggi’s 0WL6 replica, which is one of the final motorcycles from the two-stroke era.

"Experiencing that bike firsthand was incredible," Locatelli remarked. "As a child, I would watch him compete on television and dream about riding that exact bike."

"I was not let down. The speed was impressive, the tyres and brakes performed excellently, and truthfully, riding it around Jerez felt like a dream realized."

Canepa explained the Biaggi replica, noting, "The power is so intense and sudden that you must exercise a lot of caution."

"However, once you get a grasp of how the engine behaves, it becomes very enjoyable, and the power output is truly impressive."

"Additionally, the sound quality is amazing! The bike is remarkably light and enjoyable to ride, even when compared to contemporary models. It felt like a dream come true to experience riding one of the final two-stroke 500 GP bikes ever made."

Locatelli talked about Agostini’s YZR750 replica, saying, “It’s very distinct from my modern motorcycle. Despite that, it boasts significant power, and you need to adopt a totally different riding approach. Nonetheless, I had a great time riding it!”

Discover More

Breaking News

Current Events

Website Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Reproducing text, photographs, or illustrations in whole or in part is strictly prohibited in any manner.