MOTORSPORT GREATS

WAYNE RAINEY

We divert into the two-wheeled world this week, and for good reason. Californian Wayne Rainey was well on his way to motorcycling immortality when he won three consecutive 500cc world titles for Yamaha between 1990 and 1992 – only to prove all too human when he was pitched off at the Italian Grand Prix at Misano in 1993. He suffered permanent paralysis from the chest down – but showed his depth of spirit by returning as team manager of the Yamaha outfit with which he had won 24 grands prix. Now at 61, he remains a respected and well-loved figure in motorcycling. So why are we featuring him? Because he’s coming to the UK to make his Goodwood Festival of Speed debut this year – and he will ride his 1992 title-winning YZR500 up the hill and for the first time since his accident, thanks to Yamaha adapting the machine with specially fitted hand controls. There won’t be a dry eye.