Joining the World Championship-winning Helmut Fath URS sidecar outfit and Seeley-URS Grand Prix racing solo already on offer at Bonhams next motorcycle auction will be the customary eclectic mix of over 200 machines. The sale is part of The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show at Stafford County Showground on 17th October.
A highlight of the outstanding line-up of racing motorcycles on offer is the Sports Motor Cycles-entered, ex-works, 1973 Ducati NCR production racer ridden by Roger Nicholls to 2nd place in the inaugural Isle of Man TT Formula 1 race of 1977. Initially Nicholls appeared to have got the better of his rival Phil Read in the wet conditions, only for the race to be cut short in controversial circumstances that gifted victory – by just 39 seconds – to Read and Honda The Ducati has also been ridden by the likes of Mike Hailwood, Tom Heron, Alex George, Tony Rutter and Steve Tonkin and is estimated at £55,000-75,000. Devotees of this Bologna marque will also be interested in the ex-Tony Rutter, 1988 Harris-Ducati Formula 1 racing motorcycle (£10,000-15,000) and the one-owner, zero miles, 1989 Ducati 888 ‘Lucchinelli Replica’ superbike (£25,000 – 30,000).
Continuing the competition theme are two ex-works Kawasaki ZXR-7 TT F1 endurance racers campaigned in the World Championship by Kawasaki France in 1988 and 1990 respectively, both of which are estimated at £7,500-11,000. Although not an actual competition machine, the 2000 Yamaha YZF-R7 was developed as a ‘homologation special’ for the World Superbike Championship and the road-going example on offer is fitted with the ‘Stage 1′ race kit (£8,000-14,000).
There are few more keenly sought after motorcycles than those produced by Vincent – still seen as the pinnacle of British motorcycle design – and there are nine examples of the Stevenage marque in the auction. Heading this impressive line-up is the 1954 Black Shadow Series C that has covered fewer than 800 miles since total restoration by a Vincent Owners Club member (estimate £40,000-50,000) while at the other end of the condition scale is the 1950 Black Shadow Series C and Rankin sidecar, dismantled 40 years ago by its late owner and offered for restoration (£10,000-14,000). Other Vincents for sale include the restored 1955 Rapide Series D (£18,000-22,000) and the restored 1949 Rapide Series C (£17,000-20,000). The marque’s sole pre-war representative in the sale, the 1936 Vincent-HRD Series A Meteor, is estimated at £18,000-22,000.
Other noteworthy machines include the 1934 Matchless Silver Hawk restored in the workshops of the world renowned Sammy Miller Museum in Hampshire (£30,000-35,000); the restored 1929 Brough Superior OHV 680 (£65,000-85,000) and the restored 1939 Triumph Tiger 100 (£12,000-16,000).
Ben Walker, Head of Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycle Department, commented: “It’s another fabulous line-up encompassing the whole range of collectors’ motorcycles. Our sale at Stafford is clearly the auction to be at for anyone with a passion for old motorcycles!”
www.bonhams.com/motorcycles