Wow! A 1960 Ducati 125cc raced by a young Mike Hailwood is coming for sale at Bonham’s Spring Stafford sale at the International Classic Motorcycle Show on 22 April 2023. The auctioneer’s estimate is £95,000 to £120,000.
Bonham’s description is an epic tale of how the 125cc Bialbero (Double Overhead Camshaft) came about and its Grand Prix history. If you’re interested it’s all in the auction catalogue available online.
But how did ‘Mike the Bike’ come to race this motorcycle? Bonham’s again:
“Emphasis on developing the production range of overhead-camshaft singles saw a considerably reduced racing effort for the 1959 season. Some of the 1958 factory desmos were fitted with Bialbero cylinder heads and sold to privateers, with Desmo singles loaned to a selection of riders for various events, notably Mike Hailwood.
“Mike’s wealthy father Stan had purchased a 125 Bialbero (Bialbero = ‘twin-cam”) from Fron Purslow during 1958, and after Mike won three races later in the British season Stan visited Italy and arranged to take over the distribution of Ducati motorcycles in England.
“In return he was able to obtain a pair of factory 125 Desmo singles, and the services of mechanic Oscar Folesani, for the 1959 Grand Prix season. Soon after receiving the Desmo single, Hailwood rode it to victory at Snetterton on 29 March, the first win in England by a desmodromic Ducati. He followed this with 15 victories in England that year to easily win the British ACU 125 Championship.”
By 1960, while the 125 single was still competitive on British short circuits, it was totally outclassed in GPs. At the Dutch Grand Prix Hailwood finished eighth, and he elected to ride the 125 twin at Spa. Hailwood’s final international event on the single was at Zaragoza in Spain in October, where he won the 125 race. In England, Hailwood and the Barcone proved a formidable combination and several more victories enabled him to take the British 125cc Championship.
At the end of 1960 Mike Hailwood signed with Honda, and his stable of Ducatis was superfluous.
Included in the sale is a selection of correspondence, a box of tools and spares, assorted black and white photographs, and an Ian Falloon Report. The Ducati is offered in ‘as found’ and untouched condition.
