WEBB ’ S CLASSIC AUCTION YAMAHA ’ S MIGHT TZs
Original Hailwood bike at Pukekohe
collusion between Read and Hailwood , but as the Isle of Man authorities , having lost Grand Prix status , were looking for status building events , what better than the return of two of the most celebrated former TT winners ? Hailwood a fourteen times , and Read eight times TT winner . Both riders , late in their careers , had chosen to do battle on one of the most demanding race tracks in the world . The Mike Hailwood Replica 900 didn ’ t appear until 1980 . It is an 863.9cc V-twin engine , with Desmodromic single overhead camshaft , and two valves per cylinder . It has two Dellorto carburettors with 40mm choke . It provides 80bhp at 7000rpm . This model was followed by the Mike Hailwood
Replica Mille , which was the last of the helical gear Ducatis . It is unlikely we shall ever see a spectacle like the Hailwood and Read return to the Isle of Man of the late 1970s again . Perhaps if it were possible to find a Read or Hailwood replica it might be possible to appreciate why it is so important that these remarkable motorcycles have survived .
80 KIWI RIDER