UNDER THE HAMMER: YOU can OWN Mick Grant’s North West 200-winning Suzuki XR69.

Mick Grant’s ex-works Suzuki XR69 is going under the hammer at Bonhams annual Spring Sale at the Stafford Classic Motorcycle Show later this month – and if you’ve got some serious cash in the bank, you can get your hands on this rare piece of motorcycle racing history.

A joint project between the Japanese factory and motorcycle tuning legend Pops Yoshimura, the Suzuki XR69 was first released into the racing world in 1980 with Graeme Crosby at the helm. Within weeks the XR69 had taken its first win at Daytona – and the success continued, with second place at the Isle of Man TT, a win at the Ulster Grand Prix, and the TT F1 World Championship title.

Mick Grant joined Suzuki in 1982 forming part of a three-rider team with John Newbold and Roger Marshall. Grant finished 2nd behind Crosby at the Isle of Man and 3rd behind him at the Ulster GP. But in 1984 the TT Formula 1 category reduced the engine size limit to 750cc – which ended the reign of the Suzuki litre bike.

Here’s what Mick Grant reckons to the bike: “My full factory XR69 has been in my possession since I retired from racing in 1985. It is the exact specification as I raced it. It was given to me by Suzuki. To the best of my knowledge there were only five or six of the special bikes made. For some reason my bike seems to be the best specification of them all, it has a dry clutch, magnesium carburettors, billet forks, twin sparking plugs, etc.”

“I only know of two others that still exist, one is an ex-Roger Marshall bike with a collector in Ireland, and the other is an early twin-shock XR built for Graham Crosby. This machine is in very good mechanical and working condition. In the last few years I’ve demonstrated this machine in South Africa and at Oliver’s Mount, Spa Francorchamps, Brands Hatch, Mallory Park, etc.”

“It is a lovely bike to ride and still feels as fresh as when I was racing it. On this bike I had lap records and second places in the Isle of Man. I won the North West 200 on it, set the lap record Donington Park, was second in the Macau GP, etc.”

The bike that’s up for sale was given to Mick when he retired from racing in 1985 – and he’s owned it continuously since then. But now, he’s decided it’s time to sell – and where better than Bonhams Spring Sale on April 28^th at the Stafford Classic Motorcycle Show? The estimated hammer price is £90,000 to £120,000, so you’ll need some serious cash to take it home.

For more information on the bike, click HERE.