Yamaha has unveiled a new livery for MotoGP test rider Cal Crutchlow, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the brand’s debut in grand prix motorcycle racing.
Crutchlow will first sport the colours at the three-day test that commenced in Qatar today, before using them for his activity’s over the remainder of the year in commemoration of Yamaha’s milestone.
“Since last year, COVID-19 infections have raged and affected the world greatly. The situation is still severe,” and Yamaha’s motorsport development general manager Hiroshi Ito in a statement announcing the news.
“Against this backdrop we announced in February of this year that we will continue to participate in the world championship for five further years, from 2022 to 2026.
“The WGP 60th anniversary coloured YZR-M1 means more than just a milestone and a look back at the footsteps of our forerunners.
“It is a sign of our determination to have a passion second to none, believe in the power of motorsports, and deliver excitement to the world.”
The new livery features Yamaha’s iconic speedblock design, a perennial fan favourite that dates back to the 1970s, when it was most dramatically sported by Kenny Roberts en route to three world championships for the brand.
The speedblocks were in fact brought to grand prix racing by Roberts, carrying over the colour scheme first dreamed up by Rollin ‘Molly’ Sanders, who was not only the man who suggested it for Yamaha USA, but who is also responsible for Kawasaki’s iconic green colours.
Roberts won the AMA Grand National Flat Track Championship in the distinctive scheme in 1973 and 1974, before carrying it over to his 500cc grand prix machine when he headed to Europe in 1978.
Winning three championships in three years (including in his rookie season), he quickly made the design a key part of Yamaha history.
The colours, both in their original Yamaha USA black and yellow and in the red and white colours more closely associated with Yamaha’s European operations, have been regularly used since – both on production machines and on race bikes.
Most recently, Valentino Rossi campaigned the US colours at Laguna Seca in 2005 and 2006 to celebrate Yamaha’s 50th anniversary, while Ben Spies won his sole MotoGP race in the European colours at the 2011 Dutch TT.
It’s expected that the design that Crutchlow is sporting will make a race appearance in 2021 to celebrate the 60th anniversary as well, either when the British rider gets his expected wildcard outing or potentially even as a one-off design for the factory team of Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo.
