- The former factory MV Agusta from 1965 achieved a hammer price of 967,000 pounds (approximately 1,116,000 euros / 1,305,000 US dollars) against an estimate of 160,000 to 220,000 pounds.
- Barry Sheene’s championship Suzuki RG500 XR14 from 1977 sold for 506,000 pounds (approximately 584,000 euros / 683,000 US dollars), more than double the expectation.
- Both machines were offered without reserve and were part of the „Connoisseurs Collection, Part II“.
The Bonhams Spring Stafford Sale has been one of the most important dates on the calendar for collectors of historic motorcycles for years. On the weekend of April 25 and 26, 2026, the auction once again took place as part of the International Classic MotorCycle Show at the Staffordshire County Showground, with more than 350 lots spread across two days. But two machines stole the show from all others: An MV Agusta four-cylinder 500cc from 1965 and a Suzuki RG500 XR14 from 1977, which together achieved just under 1.5 million pounds (approximately 1.73 million euros / 2.03 million US dollars).
The MV Agusta 500cc Grand Prix from 1965: Nearly One Million Pounds for Living History
The highlight of the auction was undoubtedly the former factory machine from MV Agusta. The four-cylinder 500cc Grand Prix machine dates from the dominant phase of the Italian brand in the mid-1960s and is said to have been ridden by Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, or both during the 1965 season. That year, Hailwood secured his fourth consecutive 500cc World Championship title before switching to Honda. Agostini finished the season as runner-up in the World Championship.
The estimate was 160,000 to 220,000 pounds (approximately 185,000 to 254,000 euros / 216,000 to 297,000 US dollars). When the hammer fell, the result stood at 967,000 pounds (approximately 1,116,000 euros / 1,305,000 US dollars), more than four times the upper estimate.
The machine is considered the only MV from the 1965 season still largely preserved in original condition. It was authenticated by Enrico Sironi, the Director of the Agusta Museum. Since 2005, the motorcycle had been in a private overseas collection. Before that, from 1986, it was owned by John Surtees, the seven-time Grand Prix World Champion, who had acquired the machine directly from MV Agusta at the time.
Surtees had the MV Agusta completely disassembled, inspected, and reassembled after purchase. In a statement on the occasion of the change of ownership in 2005, he explained: „This particular machine was the only one that the factory kept as a complete machine.“ The seat had been renewed and a pair of replica shock absorbers fitted to the rear, but otherwise the machine was completely original. Surtees also pointed to the box-section swingarm, which was one of the last developments MV Agusta made to this motorcycle. All details such as hubs, spokes, and rims had remained original.
Barry Sheene’s Championship Suzuki: 506,000 Pounds for the 1977 Title Winner
No less impressive was the sale of the Suzuki RG500 XR14 with frame number RG500-1201 and engine number RR 1202 RG500. It is one of only two confirmed factory XR14 machines that Barry Sheene used during his dominant 1977 season. The Suzuki is even the motorcycle with which the Briton secured his second consecutive 500cc World Championship title.
In the run-up to the auction, the estimate was 160,000 to 200,000 pounds (approximately 185,000 to 231,000 euros / 216,000 to 270,000 US dollars). The actual hammer price of 506,000 pounds (approximately 584,000 euros / 683,000 US dollars) was well over double the upper expectation.
In the 1977 season, Sheene won six of the eleven races, finished second and sixth in two others, and clinched the title with 107 points ahead of Steve Baker. The motorcycle still wears the iconic red-yellow-white Suzuki livery as well as Sheene’s characteristic yellow-and-black number 7. Typical of racing machines of this era, the gear shift is on the right side, with four exhaust outlets and twin disc brakes at the front completing the appearance.
The Suzuki had been in the possession of its last owner since 1987 and appeared on the open market for the first time in nearly 40 years at the Bonhams auction. Ben Walker, International Department Director of Bonhams Collectors‘ Motorcycles, spoke ahead of the auction of a „once-in-a-generation opportunity for the most discerning two-wheel collector.“ Walker also emphasized that machines of this caliber and significance rarely come to market, let alone one that belonged to the late Barry Sheene.
Sheene Anniversary 2026: Goodwood Celebrates 50 Years After the First World Championship Title
The sale of the Sheene Suzuki falls in a special year: 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Barry Sheene’s first World Championship title, which he won in 1976. To mark the occasion, several events at Goodwood are planned throughout the year. At the Members‘ Meeting on April 18 and 19, up to 30 historic 500cc Grand Prix machines from Sheene’s career are set to take to the track. At the Festival of Speed from July 9 to 12, ten GP machines will tackle the legendary hillclimb course. At the Revival weekend from September 18 to 20, Sheene’s championship Suzukis are set to be on display before the races for the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
Further Highlights of the Bonhams Auction at Stafford
Alongside the two Grand Prix legends, the auction also offered interesting lots for collectors with smaller budgets. Among the more affordable offerings were project vehicles as well as a Honda NSR125, which was offered without reserve and estimated at a minimum of 1,500 pounds (approximately 1,730 euros / 2,025 US dollars). A 1992 Honda Fireblade was estimated at 3,000 to 5,000 pounds (approximately 3,460 to 5,770 euros / 4,050 to 6,750 US dollars), and a 1988 Suzuki GSX-R750J Slingshot at 4,000 to 6,000 pounds (approximately 4,620 to 6,920 euros / 5,400 to 8,100 US dollars).
For fans of modern racing, offerings included two Norton V4s from factory stock, an Aprilia RS125R that won the 2002 World Championship title in the 125cc class, and Peter Hickman’s BMW S1000RR Superstocker. With the latter, Hickman had won the 2019 Ulster GP, the North West 200, and two races at the Isle of Man TT. The estimate for the BMW was 35,000 to 38,000 pounds (approximately 40,400 to 43,870 euros / 47,250 to 51,300 US dollars).
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