The famous RD 56 of Legend Phil Read,.....

Phil Learn
UK
Born: 1-Jan-39

Learn was a fearsome competitor that made his rivals shiver of their boots together with the unmistakable "three horns" design on his helmet. In 1961 Learn made his debut to the World GP on a Norton, however then transferred to Yamaha from the Japan GP in 1963. In his second yr with the staff in 1964 on a RD56, he managed 5 wins successed in taking the championship throne. This was the primary world title for each Learn and Yamaha.

"I'm actually joyful however fully worn out" mentioned Learn. The objective of profitable the World Championship requires that a lot effort. Learn's success was supported by the amalgamation of the event of recent up-and-coming riders and persevering with enhancements in Yamaha's expertise. Throughout his time at Yamaha, Learn took 4 world titles within the 250cc class in 1964, '65, '68 and '71, and one world title within the 125cc class, secured in 1968. Nevertheless, after this Learn made the shock transfer to MV Agusta after a lot success with Yamaha. From 1973, Learn took two extra world titles by beating Jarno Saarinen, Hideo Kanaya and Giacomo Agostini (who moved to Yamaha from MV Agusta) of Yamaha, which had simply returned to the GP as a manufacturing facility staff.

Yr Class Consequence & Pole place Machine
1963 250cc 10th PP: zero 1st: zero 2nd: zero third: 1 RD56
1964 250cc Champion PP: zero 1st: 5 2nd: 1 third: 1 RD56
1964 125cc eighth PP: zero 1st: zero 2nd: 1 third: zero RA97
1965 250cc Champion PP: zero 1st: 7 2nd: 2 third: zero RD56 / RD05
1965 125cc 10th PP: zero 1st: 1 2nd: zero third: zero RA97
1966 350cc eighth PP: zero 1st: 1 2nd: zero third: zero RD05
1966 250cc 2nd PP: zero 1st: zero 2nd: 5 third: 1 RD05
1966 125cc 4th PP: zero 1st: 1 2nd: 1 third: three RA97
1967 250cc 2nd PP: zero 1st: Four 2nd: Four third: zero RD05A
1967 125cc 2nd PP: zero 1st: 2 2nd: Four third: zero RA31
1968 250cc Champion PP: zero 1st: 5 2nd: 2 third: zero RD05A
1968 125cc Champion PP: zero 1st: 6 2nd: 2 third: zero RA31A
1971 250cc Champion PP: zero 1st: three 2nd: 1 third: 1 TD-2

*Outcomes for years with a Yamaha manufacturing facility staff, driving a Yamaha manufacturing facility machine or ranked fifth or greater driving a Yamaha manufacturing racer (World GP, World F750)

The bike: Yamaha RD 56:

RD56(1962-66)The machine that made Yamaha well-known as "the 2-stroke maker"

This mannequin was an extra growth of the RD48. Its 2-stroke, rotary disc valve, 2-cyclinder engine was powered as much as 45PS and it was mounted on a featherbed sort double cradle body. The entrance and rear suspensions have been additionally strengthened together with different enhancements that made it a brand new machine all in all. Its debut race was the first All Japan Street Race of 1962. The next yr it carried out very competitively abroad, with Fumio Ito driving it to victory within the Belgian GP. Additional maturation in 1964 and 1965 introduced the RD56 to the extent the place P. Learn was in a position to win the World GP250 Rider title on it and assist deliver Yamaha the Producer's title as nicely. At a time when the GP was predominately competed with Four-stroke machines, the RD56 gave Yamaha the repute because the chief in 2-stroke racers.

Capability - 249cc
Max Energy - 50PS

1963: 1st: 1 Fumio Ito - Belgium
1964: 1st: 1 Mike Duff - Belgium, 1st: 5 Phil Learn - France, West Germany, East Germany and Ulster(Dundrod), Italy(Nations)
1965: 1st: 1 Mike Duff - Finland, 1st: 7 Phil Learn - USA, West Germany, Spain, France, The Netherlands, Czechoslavakia, Ulster(Dundrod)

Supply: www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/race/wgp-50th/race_archive/

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