2008 MV Agusta BSB 'SuperStock' racer

• Genuine factory built MV Agusta race version of the 1,000cc F4
• Wins and awards in the 2008 Superbike Cup in the British Super Bike series
• Raced for two seasons before it was acquired by the vendor as a track day machine
• Dymag wheels, Ohlins suspension
• A stunning Italian beauty, with a voice to match.

The record and reputation of the MV Agusta factory in international racing and the winning of world titles had no equals until the arrival of powerful and ambitious Japanese factories, who could see the publicity value of sporting success and the demand for machines that came with a famous name, so set about conquering the racing scene. After a long and hard-fought battle, MV Agusta withdrew from racing in the late 70s, their four-stroke three- and four-cylinder bikes outpaced by two-strokes from the Far East bust forever remembered for their prowess. Despite offers to buy the company, it remained dormant.

Until 1992, when the Castiglioni brothers' persistence prevailed and they bought the name and Massimo Tamburini, a man with a strong racing history with both Cagiva and Ducati, was charged with the design of a super-sporting four-cylinder machine. The result was the 750cc F4, so breathtakingly graceful that it was one of the star exhibits in the Guggenheim Museum's three immensely successful 'Art of the Motorcycle' exhibitions. In 2010 the capacity was uprated to 1,000cc and the F4 became one of the most coveted of machines.

This very rare example of the 1,000cc four-cylinder model was built by the factory in 2008 to the order of Jon Strike of STP Racing of Pontypool and prepared for the Superbike Cup for private entries. Ridden by Chris Burns, it was fifth in the series with four first places and a fastest lap at Knockhill that earned the 'Daily Star' trophy for the team; the cup awarded on that occasion is offered with the machine, along with factory supplied spare upper and lower fairings. The engine was prepared by Tim Radley and developed over 180bhp; it is fitted with a Motec data logging system. In the interests of weight saving, the machine wears Dymag wheels.

It was retired from active competition at the end of the 2009 season, having been ridden by Victor Cox and Michael Howarth that year and was acquired by the vendor for his exclusive use only at track days. It comes with a detailed record of finishes in the 2008 season. As a pure racing machine, it is not road registered and as invoiced by the factory it showed neither chassis nor engine numbers.