No need to make introductions : Yamaha is undoubtedly one of the most popular manufacturers on the globe as well as in France. Beyond its worldwide fame, the brand with tuning forks has also been present in Grands Prix for decades without interruption. Today, she is a leading figure in the world championship, present only in MotoGP. Its important legacy is also due to no less legendary drivers, and it is about them that this saga will be the subject.
Together, let's look back at the 10 greatest drivers of the legendary firm.
This episode follows the second part. The first part, which specified the selection criteria as well as the honorable mentions, is found right here.
No. 8: Charles Washed
Unlikely thing: two Venezuelans follow each other in the ranking. The country is not that big and yet we still find a South American star in eighth position.
His trajectory strangely resembles that of his compatriot mentioned above. An absolutely thunderous debut, also on Yamaha. The native of Caracas remained linked to the Japanese for twelve long years, without ever testing the 500cc. In fact, Lavado was a real specialist in small engines in the mid-1980s.
Well placed in 1982, he won the 250cc world title the following year, beating Christian Sarron by a wide margin. It was in the quarter-liter that Carlos excelled the most, and it was only in this same category that he ended his career in 1992.
Respected by his peers and appreciated by fans, Carlos Lavado piled up victories and podiums on the legendary TZ250s.
Venemotos. After two successive third places in 1984 and 1985, he regained the world crown in 1986 by playing against the Honda NSR250, although more efficient.
Thanks to his two world titles and his plethora of victories,
Lavado enters just ahead of Cecotto in the top 10.
The absence of a 500cc on his track record slows down his rise a little, especially compared to the riders preceding him.
No. 7: Giacomo Agostini
Giacomo Agostini in 1974, on Yamaha. Photo: Yamaha Community
This may come as a surprise, but yes: “King Ago” is indeed one of the 10 greatest Yamaha riders of all time. Granted, there are only three seasons as a pilot. But what seasons.
At the end of 1973, the king announced his separation from MV Agusta , a brand for which he had given everything. Together, the manufacturer/driver duo had won no less than 13 titles in several categories. The search for a challenge was therefore felt.
Agostini sets his sights on Yamaha, a brand that has been working well since the arrival of a Briton who will be discussed a little later. Will Agostini succeed without MV? The detractors were quickly disappointed.
The Italian won all the races in the 350cc championship (his favorite discipline) and retained his title despite the change of manufacturer. A mind-blowing performance which earned him the honors of all the press. Entered at the same time in 500cc, he failed in fourth place, weighed down by mechanical problems.
The Yamahas were equipped with two-stroke engines, which was not yet very common at the time. In 1975, there was redemption. By winning his tenth 500cc title and his fifteenth in total (and incidentally his last), Agostini entered a little more into the legend and made the firm with tuning forks triumph in the premier category for the very first time. It was on these machines that he ended his career at the end of 1977.
It doesn't all end there though! Having become a manager for Yamaha, he is the man behind the success of Kenny Roberts, Graeme Crosby et Eddie Lawson. Men who are among the greatest legends of our sport. A link that lasted until the dawn of the 1990s before looking elsewhere, at Cagiva. From a certain point of view, Agostini could have come in higher but he will forever remain an MV Agusta rider and not a Yamaha.
See you very soon for the continuation of this long saga!
Cover photo: Adriaan4
