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Yamaha YZR 500
1973 - 1974 YZR OW20
Late in 1972 there was talk that Yamaha would enter a new
motorcycle in 500-class racing, developed from putting together a pair of
two-cylinder 250-cc. engines. It was to be raced by the Finn Jarno Saarinen and
the Japanese Hideo Kanaya.
The talk proved to be anything but idle. At the 1973 French Grand Prix Saarinen
rode the new four-cylinder Yamaha to first place in the 500 class, roundly
beating Phil Read's MV.
After showing that he had the right skills and the right
motorcycle to win the world championship, Saarinen lost his life at Monza, and
Yamaha, as an act of mourning, withdrew its team from the 1973 championship.
Yamaha hired Giacomo Agostini and went back into 500-class
racing in 1974. The Italian was given a motorcycle with several tuning defects
and had some bad luck. In 1975 the motorcycle was completely rebuilt, and
Agostini rode the Yamaha 500 to win the championship. At the end of the season
the company announced its withdrawal from official racing, but it let Johnny
Cecotto have a 500 model like Agostini's for the 1976 season. The absence of
technical assistance and the unexpected development of the Suzuki RG 500 caused
the Yamaha 500 to lose its title.
Motorcycle: Yamaha YZR 500 Manufacturer: Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd.,
Iwata Type: Racing Year: 1974
Engine: Yamaha four-cylinder in-line, two-stroke, with cross-port distribution
and gill valves. Displacement 492.6 cc. (56 mm. x 50 mm.)
Cooling: Water
Transmission: Six-speed block
Power: 98 h.p. at 10,000 r.p.m.
Maximum speed: 175 m.p.h.
Chassis: Double cradle, continuous, tubular. Front, telescopic fork suspension;
rear, cantilever telescopic suspension
Brakes: Front, double hydraulic disk; rear, single hydraulic disk
1974 - 1975 YZR OW23
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