Yamaha Superbikes to Feature 60th Anniversary Yellow & Black
Cycle News Staff | September 13, 2015
Photography by Larry Lawrence
To celebrate Yamaha’s 60th Anniversary, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., unveiled special yellow-and-black livery on its Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbikes and Yamalube/Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport machines early on Sunday morning at New Jersey Motorsports Park, on the final day of the 2015 MotoAmerica road racing season.
Riders Josh Hayes, Cameron Beaubier, JD Beach, and Garrett Gerloff will all race in leathers and helmets with the iconic yellow-and-black graphics that Yamaha legends like Kenny Roberts and Bob “Hurricane” Hannah made famous in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In addition, all the crew members and staff who work with the two premier Yamaha teams will be dressed for the day in yellow and black team apparel.
Commenting on the tribute, Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., said, “The yellow-and-black livery is very special to all of us at Yamaha. Not only Kenny Roberts, but Kel Carruthers, Jarno Saarinen, Gene Romero, Eddie Lawson, and lots of other Yamaha road racers competed in yellow-and-black leathers and helmets, and aboard Yamaha racebikes with yellow-and-black livery.
“We’re proud to recognize our racing heritage here today and celebrate our Championship sweep in MotoAmerica with the enthusiastic fans at New Jersey Motorsports Park. It’s been a very successful road racing season for our Yamaha riders and us, and today’s 60th Anniversary Celebration is the icing on the cake.”
