The ex-Dennis Ireland; Derry's Racing; 1979 Belgian Grand Prix-winning,
1978 Suzuki RG500 Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. RG500-11337
Engine no. RG500-11338
•Rare World Championship Grand Prix-winning 500cc motorcycle
•Entered in period by sponsor Derry's Racing
•Purchased directly from Derry's Racing by the vendor
•Kept on static display for some 40 years

Introduced in 1974, Suzuki's famous RG500 Grand Prix racer would go on to secure four riders' championships (two going to Britain's Barry Sheene) and no fewer than seven manufacturers' titles over the course of a top-flight career that stretched into the 1980s. It was also the last over-the-counter 500-class racing motorcycle that afforded talented privateers the opportunity to compete at the highest level; indeed, in 1981 Dutchman Jack Middelburg became the last privateer to win a premier class Grand Prix when his RG500 beat Kenny Roberts' works Yamaha in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The Suzuki RG500 offered here is another historic Grand Prix-winning machine: entered by Derry's Racing and ridden by New Zealand privateer Dennis Ireland, it won the 500cc race at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps in 1979. The same Suzuki RG500 also took a third place rostrum finish by Dennis at the 1979 Senior TT.

Not long after Dennis had won the Belgian GP, a publicity photo-shoot at Brands Hatch went wrong: the throttle jammed open and the Suzuki reared straight up; Dennis was catapulted into a concrete post and photographer Don Morley was hit by the Suzuki, but still managed to capture the famous 'wheelie' shot (see image). Dennis sustained serious leg injuries and spent the next five months in hospital, undergoing numerous operations. Thankfully, the crash did not end his career and in 1982 he won the Isle of Man Classic TT at an average speed of 109.21mph.

Dennis Ireland had left Dunedin in his native New Zealand in 1976 to further his motorcycle racing career in Europe. He first hit the headlines in 1978 when he beat reigning World Champion Barry Sheene at the Snetterton 'Race of Aces'. A year later Dennis was voted 'New Zealand Motorcycle Sportsman of the Year'. His last World Championship Grand Prix race was at the British round in 1983, although he did continue to race at the Isle of Man and elsewhere. He eventually retired and set up a successful haulage business in the UK. Dennis and his wife returned to New Zealand in the early 2000s.

Its competitive career at an end, the Suzuki was retired to the home of Derham Locke, whose Derry's Racing had been Dennis Ireland's principal sponsor. The Suzuki was parked in the hallway of Mr Locke's house for many years. Our vendor purchased the machine directly from Mr Locke in October 2013 (bill of sale on file). Since then the Suzuki has been kept stored in the vendor's house, only emerging for display at the Isle of Man, Scarborough and in 2019 to travel to Spa to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its win at that circuit, receiving the full 'Red Carpet' treatment.

A selection of Dennis Ireland's trophies, including a podium finish trophy, as seen in the photographs may be purchased by separate negotiation with the Vendor.
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.