1978 Mike Hailwood Isle of Man TT Silver Replica Trophy *

Even amongst his many biking achievements, Mike Hailwood’s legendary comeback in the 1978 Isle of Man TT stands over and above anything else. Winning any TT is a considerable achievement but Hailwood had much more to overcome than usual. He’d retired from Grand Prix motorcycle racing as long ago as 1967 and between times had pursued an F1 car career enjoying some success before a badly broken leg sustained in the1974 German Grand Prix put paid to that. After that he moved to New Zealand to start up a boat business.

By 1978, however, he was both bored and hard-up and the racing bug still remained. He therefore agreed a big-money deal to return to the TT, which he’d won a record 12 times, including a hat-trick in 1961, before the event lost Grand Prix status. The reaction was a mixture of excitement and scepticism – the latter on the grounds of what exactly this ‘old guy’ could achieve after 11 years away and with all sorts of changes with himself and the racing in the meantime. They needn’t have worried, as on a Sports Motor Cycles/Factory Ducati, Mike was swiftly up to speed and won the Formula 1 TT by almost two minutes, having faced down his old rival Phil Read whose Honda couldn’t handle the pace. Hailwood’s feat triggered joy across the island and immediately entered a central spot in biking folklore, where it remains.

This 'Silver Rep' was awarded to Mike after the 1978 IOM Formula 1 TT which Mike won on the 'Works' Ducati at an average speed of 108.51mph. The metal base is missing its plaque, however the previous auction house who sold the trophy confirmed they had seen the missing plaque dated 1978.

An important piece of Motorcycle Racing history offered without Reserve.