1979 Ducati MHR 900cc Motorcycle

Description

The story of Mike Hailwood coming out of retirement to win the 1978 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy has often been told but is no less remarkable for that.  Aged 38 and living in New Zealand following the terrible accident that almost cost him his life at the wheel of a McLaren M23 at the Nürburgring in 1974, Hailwood was persuaded to try a new Ducati by the Manchester dealer Steve Wynne whilst visiting Silverstone in 1977 and reached an agreement to ride again in the TT the following year.  Wynne purchased three 900cc Ducatis from NCR, specially prepared with unique chrome-moly frames and highly tuned engines featuring Borgo piston and one-piece connecting rods.  With 42mm Dell'Orto carburettors, the engine developed an estimated 87 horsepower, a figure well down on the rival four-cylinder Hondas.  Regardless Hailwood triumphed following a sensational race and went on to win at Mallory Park the following week.  Twelve months later, Ducati released a race replica based on the legendary 900 Super Sport, complete with a stunning red and green fairing and reworked exhaust to extract more power from the big V-twin.  Early models used either Campagnolo or Speedline cast magnesium wheels and unique polished aluminium front forks, changed to black in 1980.  An updated model released in 1981 featured a two-piece fairing with removable lower section to make access to the engine easier, while the battery was now covered with side panels.  The chassis and engine were both revised in line with updates to the 900 Super Sports, with an electric start phased in from 1983.  The last of these Mike Hailwood Replica 900s used the same frame and running gear as the revered 900 S2.  Just 4,601 kick-start 900 MHR bikes were made between 1979 and 1984, with each of the survivors a blue-chip collector's item today.