26 years after Wayne Rainey’s career-꧃ending injury, the three-time world champio𝔍n has returned to riding with an emotional comeback using a modified Yamaha.

The Grand Prix legend made history by clinching three consecutive 500cc world championship titles between 1990 and ♉1992 with Yamaha before suffering a smashed sixth thoracic vertebra an♛d a broken spine in a crash during the 1993 Italian GP at Misano which left him paralysed from the middle of the chest down.

Having remain💎ed a key presence in racing since his injury, and is currently the MotoAmerica President, Rainey has taken to the track again using an adapted Yamaha YZF-R1𝓀 at the Buttonwillow Raceway in his native California. Rainey, wearing a remake of his iconic red and white racing leathers from Alpinestars, posted his comeback on his personal social media account with support from MotoAmerica.

“I had the opportunity to ride a motorcycle yesterday for the first time in 26 years🐓. And I had a blast. Big thanks to Yamaha Motor USA and Alpinestars for helping make it happen,” Rainey said on soc💯ial media.

I had the opportunity to ride a motorcycle yest💟erday for the first time in 26 years. And I had a blast. Big thanks to and for helping make it happen.

— Wayne Rainey (@WayneRainey60)