The YCRT story

Driving force behind the YCRT is Dutchman Ferry Brouwer, former founder and Managing Director of Arai Helmet Europe. Brouwer himself has a long lasting relationship with Yamaha, that had started way back in 1968, as a mechanic. He  worked for  Grand Prix riders such as Phil Read, Jarno Saarinen, Teuvo Länsivuori, Chas Mortimer, Kent Andersson and Takazumi Katayama, and has gained a deep and thorough inside knowledge of even the most exotic Yamaha multiple cylinder factory machines. A long lasting dream of  Brouwer was to organize the most prestigious Classic “Racing” event ever, the ‘’Centennial Classic TT ’’ that finally took place in 1998 at the TT Track of Assen. A tremendous success that lead the way  to the future of Classic Road “Racing”. During the  two-year preparation period of the Centennial,  the idea materialized to restore some old racers, so those could be used for demonstration purposes. The result was a modest Classic Demo Racing Team. In the following years however, more and more Classic Racers found their way to the Team. Each and every machine was painstakingly restored to factory specifications. Where needed, parts were sourced world-wide or even re-manufactured if unobtainable. Because of the Centennial, more and more former Grand Prix riders, Organizers, Racing machine collectors and of course , how can we forget the most important part,  the public got interested in Classic (Racing) Parading.

Team owner Ferry Brouwer gradually exchanged other brand bikes from the team collection for Yamaha’s until in 2004, the complete collection consisted  of Yamaha motorcycles only. Because of the may appearances and professional presentation of the team, the Yamaha factory got interested which resulted in an official Factory support, and cooperation in 2008 and the permission to us the Yamaha Classic Racing Team name, a logo which specially had been created. Nowadays the YCRT appears in many Classic “PaRacing” events, shows, exhibitions and other events with as many as 21 Yamaha Classic Racing machine’s at the same time. Next to the Team Riders, often guest Riders are invited who are always eager to participate because of the sheer quality and exclusivity of the YCRT machines. With for instance absolutely unique four cylinder bikes, the 50 cc racer and original works machines on loan from Yamaha Motor Co.Ltd Japan. Giacomo Agostini,  Steve Baker, Tommy Robb, Charlie Williams, Carlos Lavado,  Kel Carruthers are just a few of the names of Riders that have paraded on one if the YCRT racers. And still the YCRT is expanding the number of machines in the Team, while at the same time keeping the whole Racing stable in prestigous condition. Not just for the Riders, but in the most of all  for the Public. They are the main reason for the existence of the YCRT: to share the joy, beauty, and passion of these magnificent machines with You.