Top 5 Yamaha MotoGP riders of all time

#5 Wayne Rainey

After his retirement, Rainey became the team manager for Yamaha

Wayne Rainey is a Former American Motorcycle road racer. He made his debut in 1984 at the Nations Grand Prix driving the 250cc class.

During the late 1980s and the early 90s, he won the 500cc world championships three times and the Daytona once. He is famously remembered for his smooth and calculating riding style.

Rainey began his racing career in the A.M.A grand national championship which is a series that encompasses four distinct dirt track disciplines.

In 1981, following his success with the dirt track racing, Kawasaki hired him to compete in the 1982 A.M.A. Superbike championship with Eddie Lawson being his teammate. In 1984, he moved from Kawasaki to Yamaha to compete in the 250cc championship but after a disappointing season, he was forced to go back home to join the Maclean racing team.

When Rainey was a part of the Honda team in 1986-1987, he had built an intense rivalry with Kevin Schwantz and they fought for the title. It was Rainey who won the championship but not before fighting intense battles with Schwantz. He returned to team Yamaha in Europe at the beginning of the 1988 season. It was in this year that he won his first world championship race at the British Grand Prix.

In 1989, Rainey finished second overall behind Eddie Lawson, winning three races and finishing on the podium in every race that he completed. From 1990 to 1992, he won three consecutive 500cc championships for Yamaha. After his retirement, Rainey became the team manager for Yamaha. He is one of the best drivers to have driven for Yamaha.