Legendary Joey Dunlop Isle of Man TT-winning Vimto Honda SP-1 expected to fetch six-figure sum as iconic bike set to go under hammer
One of Northern Ireland motorcycling legend Joey Dunlop’s most iconic machines is expected to fetch a six-figure sum when it goes under the hammer in November.
A rare opportunity has arisen for collectors to acquire the five-time TT Formula One world champion’s ex-Paul Bird 2000 Honda SP-1, on which Joey famously won the Formula One TT 26 years ago.
The revered Ballymoney man also rode the machine to third place in the Senior TT in 2000 in the striking bright purple Demon Vimto colours, setting his fastest lap around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course at 123.87mph in what would be his last TT race.
The ‘historically important TT and Joey Dunlop machine’, which has never publicly been offered for sale before, has an estimate of £80,000-£100,000.
The VTR1000 SP-1 was fitted with a factory World Superbike engine and Showa suspension set-up from Aaraon Slight’s machine especially for the Formula One race, when 26-time TT winner Joey rode the bike to his most famous victory in a one-off red and black Honda colour scheme.
Following the race, Honda removed the factory engine and most of the suspension and the machine – originally the number one bike for James Toseland in the British Superbike Championship – was returned to its BSB trim, leaving its magnesium/titanium starter motor and other items. This is this version that will be auctioned by Iconic Auctioneers on Sunday, November 15 at the NEC in Birmingham.
Tragically, Joey lost his life a few weeks after the 2000 TT in a crash while racing at Tallinn in Estonia.
The factory kit Honda SP-1 raced by Joey was one of two bikes purchased new by Bird ahead of the 2000 BSB Championship, when British drinks company Vimto were the title sponsor of the team.
After Toseland was injured in a crash during testing at Cadwell Park, the bike was raced by Joey prior to the TT at the Cookstown 100 in Co Tyrone, where he finished second in the rain, and again at the North West 200, when Joey put the machine on pole in qualifying.
However, Joey and team-mate John McGuinness were outpaced by the V&M Yamaha R1 machines of David Jefferies and Michael Rutter at the North West.
After representations were made to Honda ahead of the TT, the Japanese manufacturer stepped in with factory support for Joey, and the rest is history.
Joey’s bike and a second Paul Bird Honda SP-1 machine were sold at the end of the 2000 season to Dennis Berwick, who ran his son Peter Berwick and Jason Davies in BSB during the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
Both machines were purchased by a collector who kept them until 2014, when they were purchased by the current vendor.
Last year, two ex-Joey Dunlop Honda machines belonging to his family sold for more than £200,000.
A Honda VFR750R RC30, which Dunlop rode to victory in the Formula 1 and Senior TT races on the Isle of Man in 1988, went for £132,250.
His famous Honda RC45, which Joey rode to a memorable victory at the Ulster Grand Prix in 1999 after a battle with V&M Yamaha riders David Jefferies and Iain Duffus, sold for £92,000.