Yamaha YZR500 0WC1
With Phil Aynsley
The 1990 YZR500 0WC1 was the bike that Wayne Rainey won his first 500 cc World Title on.
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-027-1024x644.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-025-1024x683.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-024-1024x700.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-021-1024x683.jpg)
Compared to the previous year’s 0WA8, the chassis positioned the headstock closer to the rider and a lower castor angle was used. The motor saw an increase in power from 150 to 155 hp.
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-023-1024x635.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-028-727x1024.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-010-1024x671.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-012-1024x792.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-011-683x1024.jpg)
The 0WC1 also had a much longer “life span” than normal in that it was used as the basis for the Harris and ROC models that entered the championship from 1992 on.
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-008-1024x767.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-005-1024x820.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-003-683x1024.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-002-683x1024.jpg)
The bike featured here is the 1990 Yamaha YZR500 0WC1 that Niall Mackenzie rode to fifth at Mugello, and sixth in the Malaysian GP in 1991.
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-014-683x1024.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-020-722x1024.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-019-683x1024.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-017-1024x631.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-015-683x1024.jpg)
He was a late addition to the Sonauto-Yamaha Team and only competed in four of the final five races of the season, finishing in 17th place for the year with 34 points.
![](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-001-1024x644.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-009-1024x683.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie's Yamaha YZR500 0WC1](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PA-Niall-Mackenzie-Yamaha-YZR500E-013-881x1024.jpg)