BONHAMS is to sell a Valentino Rossi-inspired 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1 1000cc at their annual Classic California auction this coming November.
Sporting Rossi’s personal “Five Continents” AGV helmet design, the motorcycle was the brainchild of former racing champion and AMA Hall of Famer Don Emde. Emde founded the non-profit Friends of Riders For Health to further the cause in America of Riders For Health, a charitable organisation that brings life-saving medicines to people in remote areas of Africa by way of motorcycles. As a way to generate funds for Riders For Health, Emde conceived of this project and then invited the “who’s who” of the motorcycling world to participate.
“Once we got Rossi’s blessing, everyone jumped aboard,” says Emde. Yamaha Motor Corp. USA donated the brand new stock machine, Aldo Drudi translated the graphics from Rossi’s helmet to the R1’s special bodywork imported from Italy, Roland Sands donated Ronin wheels, Bridgestone added BT-003 tires, Öhlins gave suspension, Akrapovic provided exhaust, EBC did brakes, and the list goes on – Vortex, Goodridge, Dynojet, etc. Just with improvements the bike’s value is nearly $30,000, and that’s without the significance of the project and Rossi’s involvement.
The bike, personally autographed by Rossi, will be presented in “track day” trim but it is fully US street legal and will be offered with all the necessary accessories and California title. On top of that, Yamaha will donate a day at the Yamaha Champions Riding School for the winning bidder.
The Bonhams Classic California Auction will be held at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 13th. Parties interested in bidding on this extraordinary machine – in person or remotely – may register to bid and order a sales catalog at http://www.bonhams.com/petersen.
