Lot 485*
Believed twice winner of the Suzuka 4 Hours Endurance Road Race (Novice Class), 1987 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R400 Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. GK71F-100038 Engine no. K706-100090
28 April 2019, 10:00 BST
Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground£10,000 - £14,000
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Believed twice winner of the Suzuka 4 Hours Endurance Road Race (Novice Class)
1987 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R400 Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. GK71F-100038
Engine no. K706-100090
1987 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R400 Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. GK71F-100038
Engine no. K706-100090
• Entered by the Mirage Kanto Racing Team
• Riders: Takeshi Ando/Hisatomo Nakamura
• Purchased directly from the Yoshimura racing team
• Last run in 1998
• Checked by Yoshimura in 2000
One of the most famous names in the history of motorcycle racing, the firm founded by Hideo 'Pops' Yoshimura first rose to prominence tuning bikes for AMA racing in the USA and would end up running the Suzuki factory team.
In 1987, Yoshimura competed in the All Japan International Class A TT Formula 1 and TT Formula 3 categories. At the same time, the celebrated Japanese tuning firm also supplied Suzuki GSX-R400 TT F3 machines in Novice specification to the Mirage Kanto Racing Team, which achieved two consecutive wins at the Suzuka 4 hours endurance road race.
The standard frame had to be retained for the Novice Class machines but changing the suspension was allowed, so Yoshimura fitted a Showa front fork and rear shock absorber, which were available as parts of Yoshimura's TT F3 kit. The front brake is a combination of cast-iron floating discs of 290mm diameter and 4-piston callipers made by Nissin, both of which were sold as Yoshimura's TT F3 kit parts.
The Novice Class regulations limited what could be done to the engine by way of tuning. Larger valves were not permitted, and the crankshaft and carburettors had to remain stock. Ports could be polished, and this machine's engine incorporates a Yoshimura kit camshaft and lightened valve gear. Two-ring pistons are used in conjunction with stronger connecting rods with bolt-only fastening (replacing the stock nut-and-bolt type).
The GSX-R's engine uses a combination of water and oil cooling, and so a large capacity oil cooler was fitted, while the gearchange linkage was altered to 'race' pattern: up for 1st gear and down for the rest. Saving a couple of horsepower, the generator was removed and replaced by a total-loss transistorised battery ignition using kit parts. The aluminium silencer is another kit part. A fuller description of this machine's specification is on file.
This Yoshimura Suzuki has been stored for a long time as part of a private collection and was maintained and last run in 1998, while Yoshimura checked the engine and all internals in the year 2000. The vendor advises us that he had a long relationship with Yoshimura and that the Suzuki came to him directly from the Yoshimura race team. The machine is offered without documentation. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to its provenance, rider history, specification, mechanical condition and authenticity prior to bidding.
• Riders: Takeshi Ando/Hisatomo Nakamura
• Purchased directly from the Yoshimura racing team
• Last run in 1998
• Checked by Yoshimura in 2000
One of the most famous names in the history of motorcycle racing, the firm founded by Hideo 'Pops' Yoshimura first rose to prominence tuning bikes for AMA racing in the USA and would end up running the Suzuki factory team.
In 1987, Yoshimura competed in the All Japan International Class A TT Formula 1 and TT Formula 3 categories. At the same time, the celebrated Japanese tuning firm also supplied Suzuki GSX-R400 TT F3 machines in Novice specification to the Mirage Kanto Racing Team, which achieved two consecutive wins at the Suzuka 4 hours endurance road race.
The standard frame had to be retained for the Novice Class machines but changing the suspension was allowed, so Yoshimura fitted a Showa front fork and rear shock absorber, which were available as parts of Yoshimura's TT F3 kit. The front brake is a combination of cast-iron floating discs of 290mm diameter and 4-piston callipers made by Nissin, both of which were sold as Yoshimura's TT F3 kit parts.
The Novice Class regulations limited what could be done to the engine by way of tuning. Larger valves were not permitted, and the crankshaft and carburettors had to remain stock. Ports could be polished, and this machine's engine incorporates a Yoshimura kit camshaft and lightened valve gear. Two-ring pistons are used in conjunction with stronger connecting rods with bolt-only fastening (replacing the stock nut-and-bolt type).
The GSX-R's engine uses a combination of water and oil cooling, and so a large capacity oil cooler was fitted, while the gearchange linkage was altered to 'race' pattern: up for 1st gear and down for the rest. Saving a couple of horsepower, the generator was removed and replaced by a total-loss transistorised battery ignition using kit parts. The aluminium silencer is another kit part. A fuller description of this machine's specification is on file.
This Yoshimura Suzuki has been stored for a long time as part of a private collection and was maintained and last run in 1998, while Yoshimura checked the engine and all internals in the year 2000. The vendor advises us that he had a long relationship with Yoshimura and that the Suzuki came to him directly from the Yoshimura race team. The machine is offered without documentation. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to its provenance, rider history, specification, mechanical condition and authenticity prior to bidding.
Footnotes
As with all Lots in the Sale, this Lot is sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.
Should the vehicle remain in Europe, import VAT of 5% will be added to the Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium.