When Yamaha followed Honda to race in Europe, it was a brave pilgrimage for a little-known medium-sized company, jumping in at the deep end to challenge the established four-stroke machines of MV Agusta, Benelli, Morini and Honda with the new two stroke engines.

Raymond and Elwyn chronicle the rise of Yamaha to the all-conquering manufacturer they are today.

Foreword is by Phil Read, MBE, who won the first world title for Yamaha in 1964