Top Gear Ducati 851 is auction star

Historic bikes and racing machines including this Ducati 851, as formerly owned by Top Gear’s James May and Richard Hammond, the late Jock Taylor’s 1980 world championship winning Windle sidecar, and a TT-winning TZ350 are among the lots in an online auction this week.

Almost 300 lots, including road bikes, race bikes, TT memorabilia and autographed kit by the likes of Barry Sheene and Giacomo Agostini, are up for grabs at the Charterhouse Classic & Vintage Motorcycle Auction which takes place on Thursday, 27 August.

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The 851 was originally bought by TV presenter May in 1991 who later sold it to colleague Richard Hammond, before it was sold on again to its current owner. In immaculate condition with low miles and an MoT until June 2021, it’s expected to fetch £10,000-£12,000.

The sale is also bristling with historic racing machines. A Yamaha TZ350 ridden by the late Phil Mellor to victory in the 1983 Junior TT complete with the winning trophy is going under the digital hammer with a £20-£30K estimate.

But most valuable of all is surely the Windle TZ500/700 sidecar ridden to the 1980 world sidecar championship by the late, great Jock Taylor and Benga Johansson, which has an estimate of £200-£220,000.

“There are bikes big and small, old and new, working and projects,” said Charterhouse’s Richard Bromell. “And there are also machines with star pedigree such as the Ducati and TT-winning Yamaha.”

The auction starts at 12 noon on Thursday, August 27. Go to www.charterhouse-bikes.com.