High Hopes,

High hopes

On the plane from Japan to the Netherlands it came to me: this was another remarkable year. I had just spent some unforgettable days at the Yamaha Communication Plaza, but the rest of the Yamaha Classic Racing Team season had given us plenty of memorable moments. Just check my other columns and it will be clear to you that every event we are privileged to create a tiny bit of new history. Thousands of feet above the ground I literally had high hopes: it would be fantastic if 2012 could be as good as 2011.

I was very honored when Kitagawa-san invited me to come to Japan in November and talk about my history at Yamaha, our YCRT and also about Yamaha’s 50 Years in Grand Prix Celebration. I had prepared a power point presentation, not knowing exactly what to expect at the Communication Plaza. When I arrived I was told there would be numerous lectures and presentations by Yamaha people, for a motivated selection of engineers and designers. I wondered who would be interested in listening to some strange Dutch guy, but when Kitagawa-san himself introduced me with some nice words and even a specially made video I saw a packed hall. It was a humbling experience and during my presentation – I was asked to speak slowly… – I saw lots of nodding heads and people nudging each other as if to say they understood me and recognized my story. When they thanked me with a truly magnificent ovation I was really moved. Afterwards people came up to me, sometimes asking me if I could help them get a crankshaft for a TZ500, but also offering me a new NGK spark plugs deal for our YCRT.

Another highlight for me was when I was allowed to take pictures of Eddie Lawson’s Daytona winning FZ750 – you may be happy to hear work on the YCRT Lawson replica is progressing nicely. We had a dinner on Wednesday evening it was a big surprise when walking into the restaurant I saw “Yoshi” Teruo Fukuda’s mechanic in 1984 had specially come over from Kyoto to say hello. During a visit to Yamaha it is always nice to go and see Chigira san in the little restore workshop, he always sends me home with a goodies bag..

Margriet was ever so happy with my coming home present…

I think you can appreciate this was one of the highs of year for me personally. You must know that I was supposed to fly to the Japan in 1973 when I was working as a mechanic for Jarno Saarinen. That trip never happened; in many aspects this felt like a somewhat ‘late 1973 trip’. I am loyal to Yamaha and I was once again affirmed in my belief the feeling was mutual – to me and to YCRT. Our faithful mechanics Mario, André ,Chris and Yannick should also consider this as a token of respect from Yamaha to them. And they deserve it as they have once again worked long hours while preparing some of the YCRT bikes for the ’50 Years of GP Racing Exhibition’ as well as preparing bikes for demos and parades throughout Europe. This anniversary year has come to an end now. Initially I did not think much about it, but looking back it has been fantastic to be part of it, giving joy to exhibition visitors in Assen, Spa-Francorchamps, Imola, Birmingham and Paris.

It’s been another exciting season and 2012 is already looking around the corner. I have decided to sell five of the YCRT bikes; we are full speed on the Superbike track now. Don’t worry, there will still be some historical Yamaha two strokes left in the YCRT stables and we intend to have Phil Read on the 250/4 and the 125/4 plenty of times in 2012. We are proud to say that the team has already received many invitations for the new year, but our time is limited. We as a team want to discover ‘new ground’ and therefore the YCRT will probably make our ‘debut’ at Donington.

I would like to end by thanking you for all the support you have given us in 2011, thanks for all your comments, all your heart-warming remarks and all your emails and letters. Please keep them coming – they’ll get me through the cold winter nights.

On behalf of the YCRT I’d like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy 2012. See you next year!

Ferry Brouwer