Yamaha R1 ‘Piro’ replica raises €27,000 for charity
The Yamaha R1 homage to the late Fabrizio Pirovano has been sold, raising €27,000 for an Italian cancer research charity
A one-off Yamaha R1 painted up as a replica of the Fabrizio Pirovano YZF 750 SP race bike has been sold at auction.
The bike was created to honour the return of World Superbike racing to Estoril, 27 years after the Italian racer’s 10th and final WorldSBK victory.
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Adding to the machine’s provenance, Pirovano’s friend and GP and superbike racer, Alessandro Gramigni, took the bike for a parade lap of Estoril before the bike was rolled across the auction block.
The bike was sold to an anonymous buyer, with all of the €27,000 now being donated to cancer research charity Fondazione Oncologia Niguarda Onlus, which the Pirovano family has supported since Fabrizio’s passing.
The ‘Piro’ Replica R1 is based on a standard Yamaha R1, featuring the famous white, pink and blue livery of Pirovano’s race-winning #5 Yamaha YZF 750 SP. The Italian contested the early years of WorldSBK with Yamaha, finishing runner-up on two occasions. He retired in 2006 and sadly passed away from cancer in 2016.
The original bike being ridden by 'Piro' himself
Andrea Dosoli, Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager, said:
“There was a lot of interest for the ‘Piro’ Replica R1 and we’re delighted that someone has the opportunity of owning such a unique bike. It’s been on an emotional journey since it was created and unveiled in Portugal. We’re also proud to be able to support such an important and instrumental charity like Fondazione Oncologia Niguarda Onlus, it’s exactly what Fabrizio would have wanted.”
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
