2011 MotoGP
The Honda Collection Hall at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit got a major makeover for this weekend’s MotoGP event.
Visitors will still get the chance to witness historical Honda racing motorcycles, but strategically placed throughout the hall are Honda’s rival race machines from Yamaha.
Just a few…Max Biaggi’s 2002 YZR-M1 next to Valentino Rossi’s Honda RC211V, and many rare collectibles, including Phil Read’s 1968 RD05A, Kenny Roberts’ 1983 YZR500, John Kocinski’s 1990 YZR250 and Wayne Rainey’s 1993 YZR-M1. In the above pictures, 2010 MotoGP Champion Jorge Lorenzo poses next to some of these iconic motorcycles.
Yamaha says: “Permission for this unique placement of Yamaha’s machines within the collection was kindly given by Honda to honor Yamaha’s 50th anniversary of Grand Prix racing.”
But these bikes won’t remain dormant all weekend; following the warm-up for 2011 Motegi MotoGP, many of the historical Yamaha race machines will take to the track for a parade lap; during that lap, iconic former Japanese racers will pilot five Yamaha race bikes.
Besides the Yamaha machinery at Motegi, MotoGP fans at Motegi will be treated to some authenic Italian cuisine at the “Grappa” restaurant. There, Yamaha Factory Racing’s Italian chef gave three Italian recipes to Grappa, and the Japanese chef there was “quick to whip up a taste of La Dolce Vita.”
Yamaha says: “The chef dropped in to the restaurant this afternoon to demonstrate how to make the pasta ‘all’arrabbiata,’ sharing the Italian style of cooking with his Japanese counterpart. Situated in the middle of the public area, the restaurant will welcome over a thousand people over the race event, many sampling the traditional Italian food for the first time.”
