Nostalgia fans are again set for a treat in the Manx Grand Prix paddock with a display of some of the world’s most memorable race bikes, sponsored by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

Chris Wilson, who owns the collection, is part of a worldwide, membership based organisation of racing bike collectors called Amicale that has the aim of providing original genuine bikes at events and displays.

The collection includes machines from the four leading Japanese manufacturers and bikes that have been ridden to world championships as well as TT victories, and features machines that have been part of some of the most memorable moments on the Mountain Course’s hundred year history.

Among the bikes that will be on display throughout the fortnight are the 1975 Suzuki XR14 on which Barry Sheene won his first 500GP at Assen, the classic Yellow/Black 1980 Yamaha OW48R that Kenny Roberts clinched his last world championship on in Germany and the 1982 Honda NS500, which Freddie Spencer won his first 500GP, which was also the first 2 stoke Honda to win a GP.

Notable TT bikes include the 1978 Suzuki XR23b that Pat Hennen rode to become the first person to lap the course in under 20 minutes, the 1981 Yamaha OW53 that Barry Sheene raced for the first part of the year and which Charlie Williams rode in the TT the following year setting the fastest outright lap and the 1975 Kawasaki KR750 on which Mick Grant beat Mike Hailwood’s 8 year-old outright lap record. Mick Grant’s 1980 Open Classic TT winning Honda RS1000 will also be on display.

MotoGP fans can see Loris Capirossi’s 2003 Ducati Desmicedici, which was the first Ducati to win a MotoGP race, while Carl Fogarty’s World Superbike FP1 machine, the only FP1 outside the factory and the only British bike to score World Superbike points and achieve a pole position.

The full collection of bikes will be on display in a marquee behind the main grandstand from Saturday 20th August to Sunday 4th September.

Geoff Corkish, MBE, MHK, Political Member, Isle of Man Tourism commented:

“We are really pleased to have secured this prestigious collection for this year’s Manx Grand Prix, which I’m sure will prove popular with visitors and residents alike. I’d like to thank Chris Wilson for the very generous loan, and The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for their support, and to encourage as many people as possible to take the chance to see these memorable machines.”



Pictures by Mortons Archive

.