Italian Bike Collection comes to Phillip Island Circuit
A collection of two dozen race- and championship-winning grand prix motorcycles were recently unveiled in their new home at the Phillip Island Circuit Visitor Centre.
The bikes, all Aprilia or Cagiva models, were purchased by the Fox family (Phillip Island Circuit owners) last year and are now on permanent display in the ‘History of Motorsport Display’ following a grand opening on Australia Day.
Andrew Fox and Phillip Island Circuit Manager Fergus Cameron discovered the bikes in a pair of private European collections last year and believe they’ll be a popular ongoing attraction at the circuit’s visitor centre.
“These are legendary Latin machines and a special collection for the people of Phillip Island,” said Fox. “It is a racing repertoire to be proud of, another wonderful treasure for our island that visitors will really enjoy.”
The collection consists of 15 Aprilias and 9 Cagivas, with the former including 125cc, 250cc and 500cc machinery.
Highlights amongst the Aprilia group include Alessandro Gramigni’s 125cc bike from 1992, which delivered Aprilia its first world title, as well as world title-winning machines from Valentino Rossi (125cc – 1997), Max Biaggi (250cc - 1995), Loris Capirossi (250cc - 1998) and Marco Melandri (250cc – 2002).
The Fox family says Rossi’s Aprilia RSV125 is a treasured member of the collection, as it was the bike that the Italian dominated the 125cc championship on in 1997, with 11 victories, 13 podiums and a world title that launched his career on the world stage.
Max Biaggi scored three successive 250cc championships for Aprilia in the 1990s, with the 1995 championship bike in the collection coming from the year in which the Italian won eight races and scored a further 12 podiums.
Kazuto Sakata’s 125cc championship winners from 1994 and 1998 are also amongst the junior Aprilias.
The three premier class Aprilia RSV500s include the bike Jeremy McWilliams rode to pole position in the Australian GP in 2000.
The Cagiva bikes represent the Italian marque’s 500cc racing efforts from 1987 to 1994; a period where riders like Eddie Lawson, Jon Kocinski, Randy Mamola, Alex Barros, Doug Chandler and Aussie Mat Mladin piloted the red machines in grand prix competition.
The Cagivas on display include the race-winning machines of Lawson, who scored the first ever Cagiva victory at a wet Hungary race in 1992, and Kocinski, who led Cagiva’s final championship campaigns in 1993 and 1994, after which the brand dropped out of premier class racing for financial reasons.
While never seriously threatening the Japanese brands during their eight years in the premier class, Cagiva did win three grands prix and secured a further 13 podiums. Ironically, Cagiva’s best GP year was its last, when Kocinski won in Australia (back when the Aus GP was held at Sydney’s Eastern Creek) and the US and finished third in the championship.
“We are extremely excited about this collection,” Fox said. “It represents a sensational era of grand prix racing and showcases the bikes that launched some of the biggest names in motorcycle racing. The bikes are all in perfect condition and I believe we have the finest collection of Cagivas anywhere in the world.”
Fergus Cameron added: “Race fans, viewing these incredible machines at such close range, can relive some of motorcycling’s great memories.”
For more information, go to: <a href="www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au/family-fun">www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au/family-fun</a>
