Agostini to Lap TT Assen on Rossi's M1

As previously announced, Agostini is scheduled to ride a lap of Assen on his 1975 Yamaha YZR500 OW23, the as part the Yamaha Classic Racing Team. The 1975 YZR500 was Agostinis last world championship, but the first 500cc/MotoGP title for Yamaha.

Yamaha has now announced Agostini will also ride a lap on reigning World Champion Rossis M1 as part of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Dutch TT.

I am very pleased to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Dutch TT with Yamahas first and latest premier class Championship-winning bikes, says Shigeto Kitagawa, president of Yamaha Motor Racing. It is going to be a great pleasure to see both machines ridden by the great and legendary champion Giacomo Agostini.

Rossi has been sidelined since breaking his leg at the Mugello round. Yamaha has since named Wataru Yoshikawa as to ride in Rossis absence, but the Yamaha test rider isnt set to start until the Catalunya round. Fiat Yamaha displayed Rossis M1 in the paddock at last weeks Silverstone round, but for Assen, it will be put to use.

Tomorrow I will have the chance to ride the past and the present; the first and the latest world champion bikes, says Agostini who has previously ridden the 2005 M1. My OW23 was like a bicycle with 120bhp, but used to get power at 6000rpm whilst the M1 has 240bhp! When you ride the M1 for the first time, it seems that its very easy: engine, gear, brakes, it seems that it does everything itself, but then when you open the throttle you discover its power and you realize how difficult it is to control such a force!

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