For sale: Fred Merkel's 1989 Honda RC30
The American's bike from his second world Superbike-winning year will be auctioned in February, 2013, alongside a rare collection of Garelli grand prix bikesThe Honda RC30 world superbike machine raced by American Fred Merkel in 1989 will be auctioned in Paris next February.
Merkel just defeated fellow RC30 rider Stephane Mertens in the 1989 championship, with the battle going down to the wire at the final round in Manfeild, New Zealand.
The following year Merkel’s attempt at three in a row was thwarted by Frenchman Raymond Roche, who cleaned up on a Ducati 888. That ended the RC30’s dominance in WSBK competition, and it wasn’t until Honda introduced the RC45 that it won another title – with American John Kocinski in 1997.
Bonhams, the auction house, expects Merkel’s bike to fetch between 20,000-30,000 Euros (A$25,000-37,000).
Also on the same Bonhams auction will be a Garelli grand prix collection, including many from the factor’s heyday in the 1980s. Highlights include:
- The 1963 Garelli 50cc Monza world-record-breaker;
- The ex-Eugenio Lazzarini 1983 50cc racer;
- And a 1987 example of the 125cc twin that won six world and four manufacturer titles during the 1980s
For more information on the auction visit www.bonhams.com/press_release/12038.
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