On this new magazine clipping you get another idea of how close these bikes were already to the later new productionracers. You can identify already the stays for the radiatormounting on the frame for the TZ350 that was to be!!

Yamaha TR3 prototype Assen

Maybe I got the original pictures later, but it is nice to have something!

Tony Edwards just mailed me this interesting story:

In 1973 a friend, Chris Curtis, purchased a 'works' 350 TR3 from, I think, Jim Ford, who had purchased it from Rod Gould when the watercooled version was made available to him for the erst of that season. Jim had bought it for the 250 spares that came with it and then moved the 350 on. Chris rode it in the MGP in 1973 (which was also my first MGP) Chris had finished 6th in the 1972 Junior on an Aermacchi. Unfortunately the TR3 got the better of him exiting Ballaugh during one practice session and with broken leg as the result did not qualify.

I rebuilt the bike after the MGP with the prospect of buying it. I rode it at the end of season 'national' meeting at Snetterton. It was very quick! Unforunately I could not afford the asking price and finished up buying a TD2B in a replical 'Maxton'. I cannot remember who bought the TR3 but the images of the prototype TR3 on the website reminded me of this machine.

During the 70's and 80's I rode the TD2B, TZ250 and 350 and after years of retirement from racing from 82 to 96 due to sever racing injuries(broken

back) I returned in 96 with a 250J and then 350G. Since then I've had a 1998 Spondon 250K, 1995 TZ125 and now a 1984 TZ250L. Unfortunately (again) the injuries are playing up again and my outings are severly curtailed.

Good luck with the bikes and the outings during 2008.