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The mainstay of 250cc and 350cc racing at national and international level for many years, the twin-cylinder two-stroke Yamaha well deserved the title of 'privateer's friend'; indeed, without it, grids in these classes would have been depleted in extremis during the 1970s. The first of the line, the 250cc TD2, arrived in 1969 and immediately proved capable of winning Grands Prix, privateer Kent Andersson triumphing in the German round at Hockenheim that year, one of Yamaha's most significant classic victories. The giant leap forward from the preceding TD1C had been achieved thanks to a comprehensive redesign that saw the engine porting and exhaust system updated; superior Mikuni carburettors adopted; and the chassis, suspension and brakes greatly improved.

Looking like a scaled down Manx Norton Featherbed, the TD2's chassis was a development of that used for the RD56 works racer. Broadly similar as far as its frame and cycle parts were concerned, the 350cc TR2 differed mainly by virtue of its horizontally-split crankcases, a feature not introduced on the 250 until the arrival of the TD3 in 1972. By this time the 350 had been updated as the TR3, its engine closely related to that of the contemporary YR5 roadster, and from then onwards the two racers would be engineered to share the maximum number of components. The TR3 could not have enjoyed a more successful international debut, for although Kel Carruthers' works bike failed, privateer Don Emde came through to win the 1972 Daytona 200, the first of many such victories for the TR3.

The 97th TR3 produced, this example appears to have been restored, it would appear that the unnumbered crankcases are either non-matching replacement units or, potentially, original Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cases, as engine cases supplied in Japan were reportedly sometimes left unnumbered. The engine turns over.

Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's completeness, history, authenticity, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding.
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