The YPMRC - How we came about.....

There is no doubt that during the 80's and early 90's, Yamaha produced some of the best 2-stroke production bikes ever to hit the streets. Any spotty teenager in those days either had an LC, TZR or YPVS, knew someone that had one, or would have given their right arm for one. These bikes were at the top of the competition pile, especially with the F-III kit thrown on and names like Jeremy McWilliams and Mick Doohan learnt their craft on one... You know that bloke Niall Mackenzie - there wasn’t much he couldn’t do an a 350LC...

As technology progressed, the old school Yammies couldn’t really compete - the RGV finished them off really-  but there is still a cult following for this fine breed and for the last 10 years or so they have played an important part in club racing for many wannabe bike race hero's. The bikes provide an ideal tool on which to learn the all important art of racecraft. Unfortunately however, the younger generation generally don’t even know what 2- strokes are, and the last thing they want to throw their leg over is a 17 year old Yamaha 250 2-stroke especially since the success of Superbike racing in the UK. However, they don’t know what they’re missing ! Light weight, good brakes, consistent and precise handling (maybe not on an LC ... !), two stroke power and modern rubber all add up to an excellent racing package – remember Jeremy McWilliams was having success on a kitted TZR even in 1990 against KR-1’s and RGV’s. As a standard bike a TZR is one of the sweetest handling bikes ever – a race prepared one is as close to a pukka GP style race bike as you can get WITHOUT the massive running costs associated with Open Class bikes.

In these times of change in racing, where there has been a massive shift towards 4-strokes, it was decided that a club should be formed to promote and protect racing on the old school Yamaha 2-stroke production bikes and so the Yamaha Past Masters Racing Club (YPMRC) was born in April 2004. Run within the British Motorcycle racing Club (BMCRC), we intend to expand the appeal of this class and ensure its survival for years to come – after all spares are still readily available and there are plenty of road based bikes that we haven’t converted for “proper” use yet ! So sign up to the YPMRC or just come and meet us at any of the meetings (listed here) to find out why we reckon that racing with YPMRC and Bemsee is the best fun you can have with your leathers on.