VIDEO: Wayne Rainey rides again. Three-time world champion out on a Yamaha R1 in the USA.

It’s been 26 years since the accident that paralysed former three-time 500cc GP world champion Wayne Rainey – since the fateful fall the Californian hasn’t tried to ride a conventional motorcycle until now.

An invite to ride in Japan at Suzuka on a Yamaha R1 led to Rainey and a bunch of friends at Yamaha testing a kitted R1 in the USA ahead of the event in a month’s time.

Here’s the video of how that first ride on a modern superbike went. It’s well worth a look and – if you’re not familiar with Rainey’s racing past – then go and check out some of his incredible skill and battles back in the day on the most nasty racebikes ever made. A lot of it is in YouTube right now.

Here’s the America test video from the chaps at MotoAmerica: