Legend’s rare motorbike to go under the hammer – could you snap them up?

A RARE motorbike ridden by the legendary Mike Hailwood is set to fetch up to £120,000 when it goes under the hammer later this month.

The 1960 Ducati 125cc Desmodromic ‘Barcone’ Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle was one of only four such machines produced for that year’s racing season.

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And the motorbike is now one of the stars of Bonhams’ bumper Spring Stafford Sale on April 22 to 23 – expected to be sold for £95,000 to 120,000.

Mike “The Bike” Hailwood is regarded as one of the greatest racers of all time – competing in the Grand Prix world championships for nine years from 1958 to 1967 and also competing in Formula One between 1963 and 1974.

And a motorbike fan will be able to snaffle up some history if they get their hands on his 1960 Ducati.

Mike’s dad Stan, a Ducati distributor in the UK, had first acquired the bike – which was distinguished by its six-speed gearbox and its boat-like crankcase.

It then underwent a few adjustments, with Hailwood’s Écurie Sportive team installing a taller fuel tank and thickly padded seat.

From there, Hailwood immediately won nine 125 races with the bike, with further victories later in the season, including at Oulton Park, becoming winner of that year’s British 125cc Championship.

After Mike had signed with Honda, the Ducati was sold in 1961 and passed through various well-known collectors.

But it was bought in the 1980s by the late Captain Ivan Forshaw, the renowned Lagonda and Aston Martin specialist.

Also, a motorcycle enthusiast, Captain Forshaw and his son Richard amassed the collection of British speedway motorcycles sold by Bonhams last year.

The Ducati was bought as a works racing motorcycle, but its full provenance was unknown until it was recently identified as Mike Hailwood’s machine by Ducati authority Ian Falloon.

Ben Walker, Global Head of Bonhams Motorcycles, said: “This extraordinary discovery is fantastic news.

“The Ducati offers its successful buyer the unrepeatable opportunity to carefully preserve and conserve a significant piece of the legendary Mike Hailwood’s history.”

This comes after the world’s first 130mph superbike could fetch an eye-watering £280,000 when it goes under the hammer at auction.

Plus, an extremely rare Harley-Davidson has sold for nearly £800,000, making it the most expensive motorbike ever sold.

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