Ron Haslam’s unused Ducati 851S is up for auction (again)
Having cropped up for auction earlier this year and not sold, the Cagiva-gifted Ducati is available once more
An intriguing piece of motorcycle racing history will be going under the hammer at the NEC Classic Motor Show this November - an ex-Ron Haslam Ducati 851S.
Three of these were gifted to each of the 1990 works Cagiva Grand Prix motorcycle riders - Ron Haslam, Randy Mamola and Marco Lucchinelli in ‘kit bike’ spec. The 851S features one of Ducati’s early four-stroke, liquid-cooled engines, and looks gorgeous thanks to its tricolore livery.
It’s effectively a new bike, being unregistered in the UK and entirely unused. It will, then, need a bit of work should the new owner fancy taking it for a ride, rather than just hiding the Ducati away in a private collection somewhere, as is the case now. Here’s hoping the 851S gets to turn a wheel under its own steam once more.
Included in the sale is a whole load of original spares including exhausts, valves, spark plugs and various gaskets. The winning bidder will also get the original workshop manual, a paddock stand, and even the customs forms showing how much VAT Haslam owed on the imported machine. Ron is said to have sold the bike to help fund the earlier stages of his son Leon Haslam’s racing career.
This is actually the second time we’ve seen this bike crop up for sale this year. It was part of a number of bikes that went under the hammer via Silverstone Auctions in February 2023, but it didn’t sell.
The 851 S is back for another go, this time via Silverstone Auction’s rebranded form, Iconic Auctioneers. It’s due to be auctioned at the NEC Classic Motor Show on 12 November, with a guide price of £25,000 to £30,000. That’s significantly lower than the estimate of the February auction, which was £40,000 to £50,000.
Want something slightly more modern that’s actually ready to ride but still a Ducati? There’s also a barely used 916 SP3 going under the hammer at the same auction, with a guide price of £25,000 - £35,000.
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Matt has a background in motoring journalism of the four-wheeled variety but has long had a passion for motorbikes, taking his first steps into riding in 2010.
