Beschreibung:

• Ex-Belgarda Yamaha factory World Superbike team • First raced in the British Superbike Championship in 1996 • Part of the Phil Morris Collection since 2016 The news of Steve Hislop's untimely death in a helicopter accident in August 2003 came as a severe blow to road-racing aficionados everywhere. On his day, 'Hizzy' was as fast as anyone in the world, if not faster, as his 2002 lap of Donington Park on the Ducati 999R testastretta superbike - quicker than Valentino Rossi's best on the works Honda RC211V Moto GP bike - seemed to demonstrate. Steve Hislop loved the more technical road circuits such as Cadwell Park, Oulton Park and Brands Hatch, and was a master of what for many remains the ultimate challenge: the Isle of Man TT course. Hizzy won 11 TTs between 1987 and 1994, endearing himself to British enthusiasts when he rode the Abus-sponsored Norton Rotary to victory in the 1992 Senior Race, and in 1989 became the first man ever to lap at over 120mph. He was British 250cc Champion in 1990 and British Superbike Champion in 1995 and 2002, having narrowly missed the title in 2001 following an injury. That famous 2002 victory was achieved on the Monstermob Ducati, but Steve was not retained for 2003 and returned to Rob McElnea's Virgin-sponsored Yamaha team for which he had last ridden in the 2000 season. Sadly, it did not turn out to be a happy reunion, and at the time of his tragic accident, Steve was looking forward to riding his old 2002 title-winning Ducati for the ETI team. The Yamaha YZF750 offered here was ridden by Steve Hislop for the Cadbury's Boost team in the 1998 British Superbike Championship. This YZF started life in the World Superbike Championship and for 1995 formed part of the factory-supported Italian Belgarda team's line up. It was among the machines, engines and spares later re-deployed for use in the British Superbike Championship under the Cadbury's Boost banner. An engine data sheet on file shows that 'W03' was used at Donington Park; Monza; Albacete; Salzburg; Brands Hatch; Mugello; and Assen in 1995. Belgarda's riders for 1995 were Yasutomo Nagai and Colin Edwards, but which of them used this engine and when is not recorded. An email printout on file from former Cadbury's Boost mechanic Mel Allen refers to 'W03' as having been Paolo Casoli's No. 1 engine, so it must date from 1994 when Casoli rode for Yamaha in the WSBK. He continues: "In 1996 we acquired enough factory parts to build three complete bikes and have a spare engine to run in BSB under the Cadbury Boost banner. The main frame YM 005007 heavily braced and quite a stiff chassis... was used in the first part of the season as the spare bike between Niall Mackenzie and James Whitham who I was working for. As the season progressed more parts filtered through from Italy and new No. 1 bikes were built with new modified frames and the originals became No 2 bikes through 1996 and with Chris Walker in 1997. Steve Hislop joined the team for 1998 and after extensive testing he preferred the tautness of the old chassis with the new generation forks as it suited his 250-style high corner speed, so at most of the British rounds that chassis became his No. 1 bike. The engines were on a maintenance rota so that engine was used in both No. 1 and No. 2 bikes depending on the venue." Steve's palmarès for the 1998 season included four race wins and a total of 12 podiums in BSBK for 3rd overall in the championship, plus 9th and 10th place finishes in WSBK at Donington Park and 8th and 11th at Brands Hatch. Phil Morris acquired the ex-Hislop Yamaha in 2016 as part of a 'bike swap' agreement with previous owner Nick Crocker. Since then the engine has been out and the machine sympathetically refurbished by McAMS Yamaha mechanic Kevin Stephenson. The belly pan has been repainted but otherwise the machine is as acquired. Offered with a history file. A selection of spares relating to this lot will be sold as part of our online sale in December. Further details to