The 1980 Grand Prix race-winning Yamaha YZR500 0W48 that the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum acquired from three-time World Champion Kenny Roberts will make an appearance at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 11 through 14.
Now part of the museum’s permanent collection, the two-stroke, four-cylinder Yamaha road racing machine was in Roberts’ possession for more than 40 years. The factory prototype, resplendent in its iconic yellow-and-black “bumblebee” livery, is historically significant because it features an aluminum frame painted black to emulate the steel tubing of the era, hiding any advantage from competitors’ eyes. Rolling on American-made Goodyear tires, Roberts won the first three GPs of the 1980 season, which set him on a clear path to his third consecutive 500cc World Championship.
Since April, the bike has resided at the Barber Museum alongside the Suzuki RGV500 that Roberts’ eldest son, Kenny Jr., raced to the 2000 500cc Grand Prix World Championship, but Roberts’ Yamaha has made a special trip to the south coast of England for the “ultimate summer garden party,” which is the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Roberts will be there, too, and he will ride the motorcycle not only for the first time in years but for the first time ever at Goodwood.
“Kenny Roberts and Kenny Roberts Jr. are the only father and son to win the 500cc world title, and this unique history needs to be preserved and told to future generations,” said Brian Case, executive director of the museum. “We are very happy to join the Goodwood Festival of Speed and facilitate…the Roberts Yamaha for (its run) through the hallowed grounds.”
In April, the museum named Roberts as the grand marshal for the 19th annual Barber Vintage Festival, which will be held on October 11 through 13. The always popular event will feature manufacturer displays, seminars, demo rides, spectacular vintage-bike competition, and custom-bike contests, all surrounded by the region’s beautiful rolling hills. The festival is the largest of its kind and draws spectators from around the world.
