Estimated Price: £80,000 - £100,000
- Built to demonstrate just what Honda could do if it wanted to, the RC51 VTR1000 SP-1 was a state-of-the-art racing motorcycle that wore its Honda Racing Corporation stickers with pride
- The RC45 replacement won the 2000 World Superbike Championship first time out with Colin Edwards
- This factory kit example, frame number #YM900029, was one of two bikes purchased new by Paul Bird in order to compete in the 2000 BSB Championship
- Securing a sponsorship deal with Vimto, the bikes were famously painted in their bright purple corporate colours
- This example was originally the number one bike for James Toseland and, following James' testing accident at Cadwell Park, was raced by Joey Dunlop in the warm up races for the Isle of Man TT
- Finished second at Cookstown and then qualified on pole at NW200
- Joey Dunlop and John McGuiness were both outpaced at the NW200 by the Yamaha R1s and prompted Joey's feedback to Honda
- This resulted in Honda shipping over an Aaron Slight WSB engine and Showa suspension along with Simon Greer and two factory technicians for the TT
- Joey famously won the F1 event and finished third in the Senior
- Following the race, the factory removed the Aaron Slight engine and most of the suspension along with the red Vimto bodywork and returned the bike back to its BSB trim, leaving its magnesium/titanium starter motor and other items
- Weeks later, sadly, Joey Dunlop lost his life in a race accident at Tallinn in Estonia
- The bikes were sold at the end of the 2000 season to Dennis Berwick who ran his son Peter Berwick and Jason Davies in BSB during 2001 and 2002
- Both bikes were purchased by a collector who kept them until 2014 when they were purchased by our vendor
- Neither bike has raced since 2002 but have run at selected events, so may require some recommissioning before use
- The Joey Dunlop machine is fitted with a Harris Performance replica factory rear swing-arm
- History file included with correspondence and other related paperwork including a rare HRC SP-1 info flyer
- Also included is a framed picture of Joey on the SP-1 and two workshop manuals
- Historically important TT and Joey Dunlop machine, never publicly offered for sale before
- Body Types
- Transmission
- Exterior ColourOTHER
- Interior Colour
