c.1970 Yamaha 250cc TD2-B Racing Motorcycle

The mainstay of 250cc and 350cc class 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 250cc TD2 arrived in 1969, replacing the TD1C, 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 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 TR3 differed mainly by virtue of its horizontally-split crankcases, a feature not introduced on the 250 until the arrival of the TD3 in 1972. Kel Carruthers on the works Benelli 'four' denied Kent Anderson the 250cc World Championship in 1969, but the following year the TD2 came good when Rod Gould, riding a works machine entered by Yamaha Motor NV of Holland, took the title. Gould and Andersson's works bikes pioneered improvements that immediately benefited Yamaha's customers, who were offered up-rated TD2B and TR2B models for 1971.

This TD2B was purchased by the private vendor in 2020 from former road racer and Isle of Man competitor, Bernie Wright, who had owned it since the early 1990's and had it maintained by Alan Harling. Bernie was a regular Manx Grand Prix competitor throughout the 1980s and 1990s; in the early years he rode Yamahas on the Island but we understand that it was not with this TD2B.

The new owner tidied the machine and tested it on a dynamometer, finding the engine a little down on power; a compression test revealed worn cylinder liners. New pistons were obtained and the chrome liners re-plated. Since the work has been carried out, the Yamaha has been dry stored and not raced or paraded; it was last started a year ago so will need recommissioning before returning to the racetrack. The machine is offered with the dyno test results from 2023; the vendor's specification notes; a reprint of the TD2B rider's manual; and invoices for the pistons and liner re-plating. Spares offered with the Lot include two cylinder barrels, two cylinder heads, clutch parts, an ignition system and a rev counter.
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