Sanvenero 500 square four

In the same time when the Morbidelli was racing there also was another Italian square four in the GP 500, the Sanvenero. This bike was build with the money of a large building contractor Emilio Sanvenero. Some technical specifications; crankcase by Campagnolo, gearbox by CIMA, cranks by Hoeckle, Nikasil barrels and pistons by Mahle, the frame was made by Nico Bakker and it had 120 ps. There were two bikes one with stepped cylinders. The riders were Carlo Perugini, Michel Frutschi and Guy Bertin. The bike had one victory on the boycotted Nogaro GP in 1982 by Michel Frutschi. When Sanvenero went bankrupt in 1982 the bikes stayed in Hockenheim after the GP and found a home in the racing museum. In 2012/2013 German two stroke specialist Matthias Farwick restored one of the bikes and rode it at the Bikers Classics of 2013.
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Sanvenero 500 square four

Morbidelli 500 square four

This time some pics of a very nice Italian square four the Morbidelli, a rather special bike with an alloy monocoque frame and a very nice engine. This bike was ridden by Graziano Rossi and Giovanni Pelletier. Somewhere in the middle of last century, obsession for the motorcycles grew exponentially, so much so, that in 1950s, 60s and 70s, many riders decided to build their own bike for racing purposes. One such man was Giancarlo Morbidelli. He was among the few hobbyists who not only build his bike, but also won races with it. Initially started as a hobby, the Grand Prix wins gave him credibility and the small shop behind Morbidelli’s woodworking machine factory in Pesaro, Italy, launched top-level racing machines that earned four GP world championships. The team won the 125 cc world championship in 1975, 1976 and 1977, and won the 250 cc championship in 1977.
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Morbidelli 500 square four

Amicale Spirit of Speed Show Mill

Suzuki RGV500 seen at the Amicale Spirit of Speed Show in Mill The Netherlands October 2014. 
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Amicale Spirit of Speed Show Mill

Spondon F1 RD500

The Spondon F1 RD500 is restored, the current owner did a great job and came up with some extra information about this very rare and unique machine.
"I spoke to the engine builder just 3 weeks ago and was told this; The bike was built in the winter of 1984 and tested on a “water break dyno” not one of these dynojet things!!! So its at the crank the readings. At 10.500 rpm it made 125bhp and at 11.500rpm it made 150bhp however the pistons were not up to the job so a limit of 125bhp was set to make it reliable. The bike was ran for only one season as the rules changed at the end of the season allowing 1000cc four strokes so the project was then scrapped.
The bike is all totally original apart from two things.
1. The original forks were stolen for another bike many years before I got it, I am still trying to locate some original forks, so in the mean time I have just fitted some period forks.
2. The Front Spondon brake calipers were butchered and are currently being refurbed, so I have fitted Yamaha FZR calipers, the Spondon calipers will be fitted shortly.
Even the wheels are original and have been crack tested by Steve Turner the chap who made them in 1984."  
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Spondon F1 Yamaha RD500 

Bruce Anstey sets a new 2stroke record at Man

Bruce Anstey sets a new 2stroke record at Man! Bruce Anstey, riding the 2stroke Valvoline by Padgetts Racing 1992 YZR500 Yamaha, powered to a stunning victory in the 2014 Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1 Classic TT Race on the Isle of Man, making history on the way. As well as establishing a lap record of 123.894mph (18:16.324) for the F1 class, Anstey’s time was also the fastest ever 2stroke lap of the TT Mountain Course, breaking Ian Lougher’s record set on a 500 V-twin Honda in the 1999 Senior TT. Anstey dominated the race from the start and eventually won by over a minute from James Hillier with Russ Mountford securing the final podium place.
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Bruce Anstey sets a new 2stroke record at Man

The Manfred Herweh collection

Ex Manfred Herweh Nico Bakker Rotax tandemtwin, seen at the technik museums of Sinsheim and Speyer.
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The Manfred Herweh collection

Bikers Classics 2014

Suzuki RG500 seen at the Bikers Classics July 2014, Francorchamps Belgium.
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Bikers Classics 2014

Ronax part 2

Well here you go and what a great looking bike it is! With electric starter, fuel injection and 160 hp.  
For more information see
Ronax.com

Ronax V4 500

Some very exiting news this time, a new V4 500cc two stroke will be unveiled on the 8th of june.  
For more information see
Ronax.com
and
Knitterfisch 

Races Hengelo Gelderland

ICGP Yamaha TZ seen at the races in Hengelo Gelderland the Netherlands may 2014.
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Races Hengelo Gelderland

Dutch track days 2014

STR RG500 seen at the Dutch track days at the TT circuit Assen.
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Dutch track days 2014

Exotic 500cc V4 two strokes

Jurgen van den Goorbergh on the Weber MUZ, with this bike he got 2 pole positions in the 500cc class.
Back in the good old days, different makes of 500cc bikes were powered by the mighty Swissauto V4 500cc engine with more than 200 hp, such as Weber MUZ, Aprilia, Pulse and Elf. This engine was also very succesfull in sidecar racing. Most of these bikes have an ROC frame.
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Exotic 500cc V4 two strokes

Bantam RG500

The BSA Bantam RG500 Ariel Arrow is a runner!!
Want to know how it sounds see
Bsa Bantam RG500 Ariel Arrow

The Green Tulip

Seen at the Motorcycle Meeting in Utrecht the Netherlands. The 50cc world record machine of Aalt Toersen. He is going to attack the 50cc world land speed record in August 2014 at the Bub Motorcycle Speed Trials in Bonneville USA. The topspeed of the bike will be in the region of 234 km per hour. Aalt Toersen is a former Dutch GP 50cc racer, he is almost 70 years old!
Aalt I wish you much succes in getting the record!
For more pics see  
The Green Tulip

The site of the Team (in Dutch language)
De Groene Tulp 

The Bub Motorcycle Speed Trials 
Speedtrialsbybub

Bremen Classic Motorshow 2014

Ex Tom Herron Suzuki RGA500, seen at the Bremen Classic Motorshow January 2014.
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Bremen Classic Motorshow 2014

Gina Bovaird

Gina Bovaird the only lady who ever raced in the 500cc GP class.  She was the first lady who reached a top ten place in an AMA race. In 1979 she took part in the very famous Daytona 200 Race at Daytona International Speedway. She broke the record for the fastest novice with an average speed of 228 km/h.  
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Gina Bovaird

The RG500 in the spotlights at the Bikers Classics

Preparations for the twelfth edition of the Bikers' Classics at Spa-Francorchamps are already at full swing. During the first weekend of July 2014, from 4-6 July, the fortieth anniversary of the legendary Suzuki RG500 will be remembered and celebrated in great style.
For more information see 
The RG500 in the spotlights at the Bikers Classics 2014