Classic racing team Lazante discovered 60 unused bikes stashed away in a UK warehouse and painstakingly restored them.
In an Instagram post, the team wrote: ‘A rare two-wheeled project we are working on. All bikes are being put into full working order and made available with all spare parts backup.’
The three-cylinder FP1 began life as the 989cc GP1 collaboration project between Petronas and Sauber Petronas Engineering, due to be entered into MotoGP, before the project was switched to World Superbike (WSBK) and the engine capacity reduced to 899cc.
Despite a relatively successful first season in 2003, the following year the FIM increased the allowed WSBK capacity to 1000cc, and the 899cc FP1 struggled, before the project was shelved in 2006.
And now one pristine model is due to be sold during Silverstone Auction’s Motorcycles & Classic Cars auction on Sunday 24th February at 2pm.
With a guide price of £30,000 to £35,000, the striking ‘Panache Green’ and black model boasts only 7km on the clock, and is one of just 100 that were ever destined for the public.
In total, 150 were actually built - 75 in the UK by MXS International in Basildon, Essex and 75 in Malaysia - in order to adhere to WSBK homologation rules. 50 were held back for racing.
This road legal model makes 127bhp and 67.9ft/lbs of torque at 9,700rpm and weighs just 181kg. It has undergone a service with fresh fluids, new battery and full safety check and has had the bodywork cosmetically restored with the Petronas livery re-applied by the company who were responsible for the original branding on the bikes. According to the listing, the electronic dash is fully functional, the bike starts and runs cleanly, and it holds good oil pressure.
The listing states that the model ‘was purchased from Petronas as part of the entire stock of bikes by Momoto’. It is unclear whether it is one the those restored by Lazante.
For more information on the bike, click here.
