1979 Ducati Mike Hailwood Replica ENG: 089 770 DM860 FRAME.DM860SS900115. MILEAGE. 25008


Mike Hailwood, one of the most celebrated racers of all time, was effectively pushed out of top-level motorcycle racing in 1968 when Honda ended its involvement in GP and then heinously enforced a no-compete clause in Hailwoodís contract to make sure he didnít ride for anyone else! The backlash against the Japanese corporate was well deserved and underscored their intent to dominate; it undermined their competition at any cost on and off the track. With this, motorcycling lost one of its most naturally gifted riders to four-wheeled Formula One where Hailwood raced for Reg Parnell, John Surtees and Bruce McLaren. He quit in 1974 after badly injuring a foot in a crash at the N¸rburgring. In 1978, then living in New Zealand and bored with retirement, Hailwood let it be known he might ride again. The 1978 Isle of Man TT Although Hailwood had been away from motorcycle racing for 11 years, he was still ëMike the Bikeí, a living legend. Within hours of the news early in 1978 that The Master was to ride a Ducati on the Island that year, every room rental and ferry berth was booked. An estimated 60,000 people ñ the most ever, before and since ñ would be on the Island to cheer on their hero. Hailwood was on the sixth row, 50 seconds behind Phil Read. He caught and passed Tom Herron, who had also started ahead of him, and then set off after Read, catching him on the third lap. They pitted together, but the Ducati was slower away, and it wasnít until Ballacraine, a corner with an extremely fast approach and walls on both sides, that Hailwood caught Read again, this time passing him. Readís Honda died trying to keep up, and he recorded a DNF. Given Honda had effectively banished Haliwood 11 years prior to this, it must have been a wildly sweet victory for Hailwood. Hailwoodís determination and karmic strength on the Isle delivered an unlikely but heroic and highly roman