Wayne Rainey initiative raises $142,000 for racing charity
Wayne Rainey’s return to Laguna Seca for the first time in 34 years has coincided with $142,000 USD being raised for charity.
Wayne Rainey and his “Rainey’s Ride to the Races” initiative has raised a total of $142,000 (around £104,600) for the Roadracing World Action Fund charity.
The event has now raised $650,000 (roughly £480,000) in five years, but 2025 was a very special occasion as Rainey lapped the Laguna Seca circuit for the first time in 34 years.
He did so on a specially prepared Yamaha XSR900 GP bike, which was modified to incorporate the Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission (Y-AMT) system that’s found on MT-09 and MT-07 models, as well as the Tracer 9 GT and GT+ motorcycles.
You might be interested in our Yamaha XSR900 GP review.
This was his first time riding the Californian circuit since his life-changing accident in 1993, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Rainey was joined by many former Grand Prix riders at Laguna Seca, including Kenny Roberts, Freddie Spencer, Ben Spies and Kenny Roberts Jr.
Speaking after the event, Rainey said:
“This year marked the fifth running of ‘Rainey’s Ride to the Races’ at Laguna Seca, and it was another incredible success. Together, we raised $142,000 for the Roadracing World Action Fund, bringing our five-year total to over $650,000. That’s something we can all be proud of.
“For me, this one was personal. To pull on my leathers and ride a few laps at Laguna Seca – for the first time in 34 years – was a feeling I wasn’t sure I’d ever experience. Riding on a specially prepared Yamaha XSR900 GP alongside nine legends of our sport made it unforgettable. Laguna has always been special to me, and that day was filled with emotions I’ll carry forever.”
The funds raised will be used to buy airfences and Alpina soft barriers for racing in the MotoAmerica championship. Rainey added:
“At the heart of it all, the goal remains the same: raising money for the Roadracing World Action Fund charity to purchase Airfence and Alpina soft barriers to protect our riders. No one can put a price on safety, and I’m grateful to everyone who’s donated through the ride and in so many other ways.”
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
