Listen, I don’t think I need to say this, as I’m sure some of you already know this, but I’m a Yamaha simp. Always have been. So when the brand rolls out something like this, a full red-and-white throwback livery for Suzuka, you better believe my inner 12-year-old is losing his mind. And judging by the reaction online, I’m not the only one.
Yamaha's racing fans are eating good this year.
To mark its 70th anniversary, Yamaha is rolling into the 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours with a livery that hits all the right nostalgic notes. Both the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team and the returning factory Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) will run matching red-and-white YZF-R1s—an homage to the legendary YZF-R7 from 1999 and the earlier racebikes that made this color scheme iconic.
Think Noriyuki Haga’s thunderous R7, number 41, sliding around in full drama mode. That era is baked into the DNA of these anniversary machines.
This is the first time in six years that Yamaha’s factory team is back at Suzuka, and they’re not coming quietly. The entire program is coordinated—bikes, leathers, pit garage, team uniforms, everything. The livery itself traces back to Yamaha’s first race bike in 1964 and the 1973 YZR500 0W20, which cemented the red-and-white colors as Yamaha’s racing identity for decades.
YART team boss Mandy Kainz isn’t shy about what this means to him, either. He credits the R7 as the bike that drew him into the Yamaha world 26 years ago—and yes, he’s got one on display in his office. “These are my dream colors,” he says. “We’ve won two titles with red-and-white Yamahas, and I hope to make it a third.”
The current YART rider lineup feels that same sense of reverence. Marvin Fritz was practically glowing when he saw the design, instantly thinking of Haga’s R7. “I’ve always thought that livery was special,” he said. “For me it’s really an honor to be able to ride our R1 with those same colors at Suzuka.” Karel Hanika and Jason O’Halloran both echoed the sentiment—this is more than just a fresh coat of paint. It’s a tribute, a statement, and for a lot of us, a full-circle moment.
But don’t let the nostalgia fool you.
Underneath that retro livery is a purebred endurance weapon. The YZF-R1 is kitted out for Suzuka’s unique brand of punishment: scorching heat, relentless pace, and constant traffic. It’s got the Bridgestone slicks, the endurance tank, the tall windscreen, the full race-spec Akrapovič pipe—you name it. It’s ready.
And for us Yamaha tragics, there’s something extra sweet about seeing that iconic colorway back on the grid at one of the most brutal races on the calendar. It reminds us why we fell in love with this brand in the first place. Here's hoping the number seven YART R1 carries that legacy all the way to the podium this August.
Source: Yamaha
