Honda allows Yamahas into its Motegi museum

Visitors to the Honda Collection Hall at Motegi, venue for this weekend's Japanese MotoGP, will get more than they bargained for this weekend.

That's because carefully positioned amongst Honda's race bikes of yesterday are their respective Yamaha rival machines!

Max Biaggi's 2002 YZR-M1 can be found alongside Valentino Rossi's 2002 Honda RC211V and those who look a little further will find other rare exotica including Phil Read's 1968 RD05A, Kenny Roberts' 1983 YZR500, John Kocinski's 1990 YZR250 and Wayne Rainey's 1993 YZR500.

Permission for this unique placement of Yamaha's machines within the collection was kindly given by Honda to honour Yamaha's 50th anniversary of grand prix racing.

Free practice for the Japanese Grand Prix at the Honda-owned Motegi racetrack takes place on Friday, with qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.

Following the Sunday morning warm-up, a special parade will be held featuring five historic Yamaha bikes ridden by iconic former Japanese racers.