Lot 050: 1983 SUZUKI XR45 RG7500

Suzuki had introduced the first of the factory RG500's typed the XR14, for the 1974 season. The engine was configured as a square four with a bore and stroke of 56mm x 50.5mm per cylinder and apart from a change in bore and stroke for 1976 would adhere to the general layout until it was replaced with a vee four for the 1988 season. Interestingly each cylinder was essentially a 125cc single in its own right with an independent crank and removable head and barrel. The four crankshafts were geared to a central gear. Disc valve induction and five transfer ports were used. Early variants were equipped with a steel frame and twin rear shock absorbers, the latter being replaced by a monoshock system with the introduction of the XR22 in 1978 and the steel frame giving way to an alloy item during 1982. The new model showed promise over the course of the next two seasons securing fifth and fourth place finishes in the 1974 and '75 World Championships despite the various teething troubles that one would expect from a new design. With the change in engine dimensions to 54mm x 54mm for the 1976 season came the first of two back to back World Championships for Barry Sheene. The following three seasons were dominated by Kenny Roberts and Yamaha, then in 1981 Marco Lucchinelli confounded the pundits taking the World Championship closely followed by the young American rider, Randy Mamola. Franco Uncini joined the Gallina Suzuki team for the following season taking the World Championship with 103 points. Mamola was Suzuki's only other placing that year securing sixth in the standings riding for the HB Suzuki team. The motorcycle offered here was ridden by Randy Mamola during the 1983 season, when he secured third place in the World Championship rankings with 89 points. A letter accompanying the machine written by Martyn Ogborne from Suzuki GB in February 1995 to the vendor confirms that the chassis number RG7 500 2006 and engine number RG7 500 2002 were in the range that the HB Suzuki team were using during the 1983 season and goes on to state: that the machine "is a genuine factory RG7 500, as used by Randy Mamola during the 1983 GP season". The machine is currently fitted with AP racing callipers, at the time it was raced by Mamola it would have had twin piston, magnesium Suzuki items and the seat unit appears to be a later item which, according to Mr Ogborne's letter, "is probably" an item made for the 1985 season used by Rob McElnea. It therefore represents a rare opportunity to acquire a genuine works Suzuki with supporting provenance.