PASSION, KANDO AND THE FUTURE UNITED AT YAMAHA’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION A glittering array of national and world champions were united for a unique celebration on Friday as Yamaha Motor Company toasted its 50th Anniversary in a memorable event at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. As giant octopus, sea otters, sharks and rays patrolled the tanks and towering kelp forests that provided a spectacular backdrop to the evening’s events, Yamaha Motor Company Chairman Mr Toru Hasegawa opened the festivities with a rousing speech to a packed audience, filled with legends in virtually every imaginable discipline of motorcycle racing. “Yamaha Motor Company is honoured to have a proud history, rich with innovation and leadership, based largely on our strong racing heritage,” said Mr Hasegawa. “This racing heritage is proven by names such as Kel Carruthers, Steve Baker, Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey and now Valentino Rossi, each of which have won World Championships for Yamaha throughout our 50 year history. “At Yamaha our business is based on three key words; Passion, Kando and the Future. Passion is what each of us shares in the heritage that has built this company for 50 years. Passion is what we share when Valentino Rossi kisses his M1 after a victory. And Passion is the underlying force that will guide us even further into the future. “Kando is the overwhelming sense of enjoyment, excitement and emotion each rider feels whenever they experience any Yamaha product. This sense often leaves meaningful memories that will last for the rest of their lives. And finally the future is about our vision for the next 50 years and the unlimited boundaries and inspiration that racing provides for our riders, race fans and customers throughout the world.” After Mr Hasegawa’s speech had ended, Bob Starr, Corporate Communications Manager at Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, had the honour of introducing no fewer than 25 of the factory’s most celebrated riders to the stage. Over a quarter of a century of World Championship titles were present as legendary names of the past including Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, Kel Carruthers and Steve Baker were joined on stage by fellow road racing stars Randy Mamola, Rich Oliver, Don Emde, Jamie James and Thomas Stevens. From the off-road scene, former Motocross Champions Gary Jones, Marty Moates, Jeff Emig, Rick Burgett, Broc Glover, Doug Henry were joined by Supercross stars Mike Bell, Damon Bradshaw and Pierre Karsmakers. The glittering line-up was completed by Yamaha’s current stars and some of the factory’s brightest hopes for the future, including AMA Superstock and Supersport Champions Aaron Gobert and Jamie Hacking and AMA 250SX Champion Chad Reed. The last men on stage were Yamaha’s MotoGP factory pairing of Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards and, fittingly, it was the reigning World Champion who had the last word. “Yamaha have the best riders in the world!” declared Rossi, before joining the party.