'Historically important' Honda SP-1 raced by Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness estimated to go under hammer for five-figure sum in November
A “very original” Honda SP-1 raced by John McGuinness to his maiden big bike podium in the Formula One race at the 2000 Isle of Man TT is estimated to fetch between £50,000 and £60,000 at auction in November.
The Vimto-liveried Honda was also ridden by 23-time TT winner McGuinness at the North West 200 when he was team-mates with Northern Ireland sporting icon Joey Dunlop.
The Honda SP-1 raced by Dunlop to one arguably the most famous victory of his career in the 2000 Formula One TT – minus the factory World Superbike Aaron Slight engine and Showa suspension – will also go under the hammer at the Iconic Auctioneers Motorcycle Sale at the NEC in Birmingham on November 15.
One of two Honda VTR1000 SP-1 bikes purchased by the late Paul Bird, the machine raced by Morecambe’s McGuinness was originally Jame Toseland’s spare bike in the British Superbike Championship.
Joey raced Toseland’s number one machine, which was fitted with a factory WSBK engine and Showa suspension especially for the Formula One race, which the legendary 26-time TT winner was determined to win one final time.
Joey famously won the race, with his SP-1 running special red and black official Honda livery solely for the Formula One race. Michael Rutter claimed second on a V&M Racing Yamaha R1 with McGuinness completing the top three.
Joey’s SP-1 was returned to BSB time with a Honda kit engine and the Vimto colour scheme, when he finished third in his final TT race before he tragically lost his life in a racing accident a few weeks later at Tallinn in Estonia.
Both SP-1 machines were sold at the end of the 2000 season to Dennis Berwick, who ran his son Peter Berwick and Jason Davies in the British Superbike Championship during 2001 and 2002.
The two bikes were purchased by a collector who kept them until 2014, when they were bought by the current vendor.
Iconic Auctioneers say a history file is included with the ex-McGuinness machine, “along with correspondence and other related paperwork”.
A description of the “historically important” rare lot says the SP-1 is “presented in very original condition and a must for any serious Honda, John McGuiness or TT collector”.