Former MotoGP champ Loris Capirossi’s Ducati GP6 ’s race-winning motorbike is set to sell for £600,000.
The 2006 Ducati GP6 described as a pinnacle of Formula 1 engineering was ridden by the legendary Italian when he won at Motegi in Japan in 2007.
It was raced for just one season and is unique to the Ducati factory team and its riders.
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The 215mph bike was collected from the Ducati factory soon after its final race and is fully certified.
The opportunity to acquire any MotoGP motorcycle is almost impossible as almost all the Japanese made race bikes were crushed by their manufacturers like Yamaha at the end of each season.
So to find an authentic and factory-certified race winner from a golden era of the sport is exceptional, as reported by Luxury Auto News.
Ducati is often compared to other Italian motor racing giant Ferrari and both have enjoyed periods of total domination of their sports.
The GP6 was said to be a two-wheeled version of a Formula 1 car represents the end of one of the most fascinating and celebrated eras of MotoGP when it went from 500cc to 990cc engines.
The listing reads: “Always seen as Ferraris of the motorcycle world, Ducatis are graceful machines styled with panache, carrying the hopes and dreams of Italians and a fervent international fanbase willing to turn out in force on the roads and race tracks around the world.
“Indeed, many the world over enjoy Ducatis as works of art, as they are just as beautiful to behold either standing still or at speed.
“The World Superbike Championship was dominated in fantastic style in the 1990s and early 2000s by Ducati, with heroes such as Carl Fogarty, Troy Corser, and Troy Bayliss at the helm.
“But once Grand Prix announced they were changing the rules, Ducati were ready to take these new regulations head on, ready to prove once again that racing only improves the breed.
“Rocketing into the 21st century, MotoGP heralded the departure of outdated 500 cc engines and transitioned to 990 cc four-stroke engines bristling with Formula 1 technology to give more power, more speed, and welcome more teams to the grid.
“This revolutionized the sport, leaving not just fans trackside agog at the spectacle and often deaf due to the volcanic levels of sound.
“But even riders struggled to cope with the sheer speed of these new bikes.
“Crowds at races changed immediately with die-hards and new fans alike desperate to see this new spectacle; similar to Concorde’s first flight or seeing Pele score a World Cup goal for Brazil.
“Those who were there will never forget it.”
The auction takes place in New York, US on next Tuesday (Dec 3).
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