The ex-works, Barry Sheene
1974 Suzuki TR750 Formula 750 Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. GT750-45072
•Ridden by Barry Sheene in 1974 and 1975
•Frame and cylinders confirmed as ex-Sheene
•Fully restored
•Substantial history file
•Offered from a prominent private collection

Offered here is Barry Sheene's 1974 Formula 750 Suzuki, which was thought to be lost: it disappeared in 1975 and nobody ever claimed to have had it. Sheene used '45072' at Daytona in 1974 and also for numerous other races that year, including the 'Race of the Year' at Mallory Park, which he won. Having seriously injured his legs in that infamous Daytona crash, Barry also used this bike in 1975 because it had lowered footrest hangers and was easier for him to ride. Known results for Barry Sheene on the 1974 TR750 (frame number '45072') are as follows:

Easter 1974 - Transatlantic Trophy (Anglo America Match Race Series)

Round 1Brands Hatch3rd

Round 2Brands Hatch4th

Round 3Mallory Park2nd

Round 4Mallory Park2nd

Round 5Oulton Park1st

Round 6Oulton Park2nd

Overall highest GB points scorer with 88 points.

15th September 1974 - winner of the 'Race Of The Year', Mallory Park

1974 - MCN Superbike Champion

FIM Formula 750 races:

Imola 200 - 5th

GB - Silverstone - 1st

USA Grand National Championship:

Ontario (6th October) 4th

At the end of 1975 '45072' disappears from the Suzuki listings; all subsequent listings are the 1975 bikes, which were the last built. It was assumed that Barry had kept the bike, which was not unusual.

In 2008 a known collector of historic racing motorcycles was contacted by Keith Roberts in Australia about buying his TR500 and TR750, which he subsequently did. Keith Roberts had a paper trail for the TR750 which stated it was an ex-Sheene frame, but without access to Suzuki records for the 1974 bikes this could not be proved. Keith Roberts' TR750 was the one that had been sold to Steve Harris by Franco Sheene, which Barry confirmed to him in a phone call. The rolling chassis was bought to Australia by Derick McDougal, who used to work for Harris in 1984; he was going to turn it into a road bike but got no further than making a swinging-arm. Derick sold the Suzuki to famed Australia racer John Woodley, who sold it in 1990 to Peter Shires. Peter subsequently sold the bike to Keith Roberts, who set about finding its history by contacting Barry Sheene, Franco Sheene and various others.

The engine was sold by Steve Harris to sidecar racer Frank Wrathall, who then sold it to New Zealand where it was reunited with the bike while Peter Shires owned it. However, its history is not entirely clear but it is a correct-for-the-period TR750 factory motor.

The aforementioned collector purchased the ex-Sheene Suzuki TR750 in 2008 and did nothing with it for some years. He already had the original 1974 'Race of the Year'-winning cylinders as engraved by Barry and confirmed by him in a signed fax (on file); it was only when a letter containing the TR750 racers' frame numbers was obtained from Rex White that the bike's identity was firmly established. Renowned TR750 expert Karl Huebben also confirmed the story, whilst on file is a copy of the letter from former Suzuki Team Manager Rex White confirming that frame number '45072' is ex-Sheene. It was only then that the project to refurbish and recommission the bike began, with many of the parts being supplied by Paul Smart. The breakdown of the machine's component parts is as follows:

Frame - original factory, ex-Sheene
Swinging-arm – original factory from Paul Smart
Engine - original factory, believed Sheene
Cylinders – factory, ex-Sheene
Exhausts - original factory, ex-Sheene
Carburettors - later Mikuni
Ignition and coils - original factory, ex-Sheene
Triple clamps - upper replica, lower original factory
Wheels - original factory with period tyres
Forks - replica factory
Brake calipers - front replica factory, rear original factory
Master cylinders - front new-old-stock GT750 (as was fitted), rear original factory
Control levers - new
Rev counter - original factory
Fuel tank - original factory from Paul Smart (believed original Sheene item)

So what we have here is as complete a Sheene bike as is possible, with the frame confirmed by Suzuki and the engine cylinders confirmed by Barry himself. This historic machine is offered with a substantial history file of race results, press cuttings, photographs, correspondence, etc. A unique opportunity to own a factory race bike ridden by one of motorcycle racing's greatest World Champions.
Footnotes:
All lots are sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.

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This Lot will be auctioned on Sunday 21 April starting at 11am GMT.