The start of a long lineage of legends like the RD350, Yamaha’s R5 punched far above its weight class – it was one of the best bangs for your buck in the 1970s.

In the 60s and early 70s, Californian petrolheads were at the forefront of both dirt and tarmac racing. While Triumph twins dominated the scene, Yamaha's two-stroke racers, like the 1971 Yamaha 350 TR3RD, were quickly making a name for themselves in the endurance racing circuit.

Unlike the British twins, these lightweight, high-revving machines were known for their nimbleness and incredible power-to-weight ratio. Among these was the legendary Montjuich Class Endurance Racer prototype - a machine designed for long-distance tarmac battles.

Rumour has it that to challenge the British stronghold and emerging Jap presence, Yamaha's West Coast distributors proposed a limited run of such highly specialized endurance racers tailored for the American market.

These were to be a blend of track-ready performance and street-legal practicality. The project, dubbed the "Red Rocket" series, was intended to be a game-changer in the Californian racing scene. However, the project never saw the light of day... until now!

Fast forward to today, the iconic memory of this "what could have been" 1971 Yamaha 350 TR3RD Montjuich Class Endurance Racer has been resurrected. After extensive research and scouring the archives of Yamaha's U.S. racing teams, JETS' Associate Tech Guru Tony Taysom took on the task of building this forgotten masterpiece from the ground up. Working under the meticulous guidance of JETS' "Godfather," Jeff Duval, this one-off build was brought to life with an uncompromising attention to detail.

The frame, originally designed for lightweight endurance racing, was fully race modified then restored to its former glory. However, to give it that unique allure, a touch of modern craftsmanship was added—black paint with subtle red metallic flakes, giving the bike a distinctive sheen under sunlight. The period-correct Yamaha badges were sourced and carefully restored, ensuring authenticity.

On the mechanical side, the heart of the beast, the 348 cc air-cooled, two-stroke twin engine, was completely overhauled by earlier lauded Tony Taysom who not only rebuilt the engine to factory specifications but also incorporated a few modern upgrades to enhance reliability and performance, ensuring the bike runs as well as it looks.

The seriously critical job of painting this unique restoration project matching yesteryear OEM colours was entrusted to Steve, Mandy and Sammy of Image Custom Design, Camberley, who were able to commendably replicate and improve the original attire. To match the high standards of the build, all the bodywork parts were painted in Yamaha's period-correct red but with a candy metallic finish that gives it a deep, rich look. The white was done in a pearl finish, adding a subtle yet striking contrast. Notwithstanding the Gold Leaf separation pin stripes.

The final assembly and tuning were completed by Tony Taysom too, who made sure every part of the bike was optimized for endurance racing, blending historical accuracy with modern reliability. Finally, after a meticulous final inspection by JET's Chief Tech, Sean Reynolds, this unique Yamaha 350 TR3RD Montjuich Class is now ready to hit the tarmac, embodying what Yamaha's West Coast team envisioned over five decades ago. This is more than just a restoration; it's a tribute to a bygone era of racing, brought back to life with passion and precision.

Soon to be on display at...

Moore Speed Racing Poole BH12 4BQ - GB

+44 (0) 1202 746141

sales@moorespeedracing.co.uk