Lot 405: Jawa 498cc Speedway Motorcycle

The ageing JAP engine’s stranglehold on the speedway world loosened in the 1960s with the arrival of the Czech ESO machines. Founded in 1949, ESO specialised in speedway and other off-road competition motorcycles and was part of the Jawa-CZ group. In 1966 the ESO name was dropped, the firm’s DT5 speedway model becoming the Jawa 500DT type 680. Just as it had displaced the ageing JAP, the Jawa eventually gave best to a more modern design, this time one from specialist engine manufacturer Weslake. Presented in good order, this two-valve Jawa has been in the vendor’s possession for over 20 years. We are advised that the engine was serviced early on in his ownership and that the machine has remained unused since then.