Seeking to deflect criticism of the decision to withdraw its works team from Grand Prix racing at the end of the 1954 season, NSU announce that a racing version of the Max roadster – the Sportmax – would be offered to privateers. From the start of the 1955 season the Sportmax was simply the fastest over-the-counter 250-class racer on the market. As well as providing works-supported 'veteran' rider Hermann Müller with the 1955 250cc World Championship, the Sportmax was one of the most competitive lightweights of any kind available to the privateer, and in the right hands proved capable of a respectable showing in national events well into the 1960s. Other prominent stars Sportmax-mounted for '55 included John Surtees Sammy Miller, Pierre Monneret and former NSU works rider Hans Baltisburger, while later in the decade an up-and-coming Mike Hailwood used the ex-Surtees example to spectacularly good effect. In his excellent history of the marque 'NSU – The Complete Story', renowned motorcycling authority Mick Walker states that well-informed sources estimate the total number of Sportmaxes produced to be 34, with a number of others constructed from spare parts after the NSU race shop was closed and sold off to the Herz family in the late 1950s. Today genuine examples such as that offered here are keenly sought after by collectors. The original Sportmax offered here was raced by Raphaël Orinel from Thimister, Belgium in national events and selected rounds of the FIM World Championship, commencing in 1960 at Chimay, Belgium where he finished out of the points in a race won by Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta). The season culminated with 3rd place overall in that year's Belgian 250cc championship. The following year saw Orinel finish in 11th and 9th places at the French and Belgian Grands Prix respectively, after which it seems the Sportmax was confined to national events until 1962. In that year its solitary outing on the international stage was at the French Grand Prix where Jim Redman headed a Honda clean sweep of the podium places in the 250 race. By now the Sportmax was hopelessly outclassed at international level and Orinel switched to a Honda four. It appears that Raphaël Orinel decided to retire from top-flight racing at the season's end, as his name does not appear in the GP records after 1962. Modifications made to the Sportmax by Orinel in period include fitting a telescopic front fork and a Manx Norton front wheel and brake, which were removed when the bike was restored to original specification by the current vendor circa 2000. The Sportmax has only been ridden on demonstration laps since completion and has not been raced. Noteworthy features include a replica fuel tank (fitted at time of restoration) and a twin-plug cylinder head. Described by the vendor as in concours condition, the machine is offered with period photographs and a list of race results.
Seeking to deflect criticism of the decision to withdraw its works team from Grand Prix racing at the end of the 1954 season, NSU announce that a racing version of the Max roadster – the Sportmax – would be offered to privateers. From the start of the 1955 season the Sportmax was simply the fastest over-the-counter 250-class racer on the market. As well as providing works-supported 'veteran' rider Hermann Müller with the 1955 250cc World Championship, the Sportmax was one of the most competitive lightweights of any kind available to the privateer, and in the right hands proved capable of a respectable showing in national events well into the 1960s. Other prominent stars Sportmax-mounted for '55 included John Surtees Sammy Miller, Pierre Monneret and former NSU works rider Hans Baltisburger, while later in the decade an up-and-coming Mike Hailwood used the ex-Surtees example to spectacularly good effect. In his excellent history of the marque 'NSU – The Complete Story', renowned motorcycling authority Mick Walker states that well-informed sources estimate the total number of Sportmaxes produced to be 34, with a number of others constructed from spare parts after the NSU race shop was closed and sold off to the Herz family in the late 1950s. Today genuine examples such as that offered here are keenly sought after by collectors. The original Sportmax offered here was raced by Raphaël Orinel from Thimister, Belgium in national events and selected rounds of the FIM World Championship, commencing in 1960 at Chimay, Belgium where he finished out of the points in a race won by Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta). The season culminated with 3rd place overall in that year's Belgian 250cc championship. The following year saw Orinel finish in 11th and 9th places at the French and Belgian Grands Prix respectively, after which it seems the Sportmax was confined to national events until 1962. In that year its solitary outing on the international stage was at the French Grand Prix where Jim Redman headed a Honda clean sweep of the podium places in the 250 race. By now the Sportmax was hopelessly outclassed at international level and Orinel switched to a Honda four. It appears that Raphaël Orinel decided to retire from top-flight racing at the season's end, as his name does not appear in the GP records after 1962. Modifications made to the Sportmax by Orinel in period include fitting a telescopic front fork and a Manx Norton front wheel and brake, which were removed when the bike was restored to original specification by the current vendor circa 2000. The Sportmax has only been ridden on demonstration laps since completion and has not been raced. Noteworthy features include a replica fuel tank (fitted at time of restoration) and a twin-plug cylinder head. Described by the vendor as in concours condition, the machine is offered with period photographs and a list of race results.
Testen Sie LotSearch und seine Premium-Features 7 Tage - ohne Kosten!
Lassen Sie sich automatisch über neue Objekte in kommenden Auktionen benachrichtigen.
Suchauftrag anlegen
