The ex-Carl Fogarty, Michael Rutter, North West 200-winning, 1993 Ducati 888 Corsa

• Specially prepared by the factory for Carl Fogarty
• Entered by the UK importer team, Moto Cinelli
• Authenticated provenance
• Present ownership since 2005
• Engine rebuilt by John Hackett in 2005
• Only four parade laps with James Courtney since the engine rebuild

Like Duke's with Norton, Surtees' with MV, Hailwood's with Honda and Sheene's with Suzuki, Carl Fogarty's name will forever be linked with that of Ducati, for whom the Blackburn-born rider secured four World Superbike Championships in the 1990s, a monumental achievement unlikely to be bettered. Carl's association with the Italian manufacturer began in 1992 - his second season in World Superbike - when he rode a privately entered Ducati 888, scoring a memorable debut victory in the second race at Donington Park. That win, plus the World Endurance Championship title that same year, earned him a place in the works Ducati World Superbike team for the 1993 season.

In addition to his works ride in WSBC, Carl was provided with the machine offered here, a Ducati 888 Corsa (Race) specially prepared by the factory to a specification higher than that enjoyed by other customer Corsas entered by private teams, with the intention of competing in non-clashing rounds of the British Championship and major events such as the Isle of Man TT and North West 200. Entered by UK importer team Moto Cinelli, the bike was used at Oulton Park where Carl fell while contesting the lead. At the North West 200 in Northern Ireland he won both the Superbike race, beating the Dunlop brothers (Robert 2nd and Joey 3rd), and the feature North West 200 event ahead of Robert Dunlop (2nd) and Phillip McCallen (3rd). He also set a new lap record of 122.49mph.

As it happened, Carl did not contest the TT in 1993 and missed the other British Championship rounds, leaving the 888 Corsa redundant until the Donington Park round of the World Superbike Championship where it was ridden in practice by Niall Mackenzie. Towards the end of the domestic season it was entered in the Cadwell Park round of the British Championship, only to be crashed heavily in practice by rider Phil Borley. The machine could not be repaired in time for the race and was subsequently rebuilt around a new frame, which Classic Racer magazine's former editor Malcolm Wheeler (Moto Cinelli team manager in 1993) confirmed was stamped with the original number. Damaged beyond repair, the old frame was scrapped

Late in 1993 the Corsa was purchased by Barry Reekie on behalf of his employers, the garden machinery manufacturer McCulloch, for their sponsored rider Michael Rutter to use in the TT Superbike races of the 1994 HEAT/British Supercup series. At the end of a season dominated by the Duckhams Norton rotaries of Ian Simpson and Phil Borley, Rutter finished 4th in the Superbike Championship despite a considerably smaller budget than many of his rivals. Painted in McCulloch's distinctive bright yellow livery, the bike is pictured on page 187 of Motocourse, 1994-95.

The 888 Corsa was retained as a spare for 1995, McCulloch having acquired a new-generation Ducati 916 for Rutter to use as his main machine, and at some time during 1996 was sold to Robin Mortimer (the late brother of Chas Mortimer, the ex-Grand Prix rider). In 1998 it was completely restored - incorporating new crankcases, pistons, etc - and refinished in its 1993 Foggy/Moto Cinelli livery by marque specialist John Hackett (Ducati Coventry), mechanic with the Moto Cinelli team during the 1990s.

The ex-Fogarty/Rutter 888 was purchased at Bonhams' Stafford auction in April 2005 (Lot 543) by the current vendor, a Northern Ireland-based private collector who has kept it in dehumidified storage ever since. Found to have a corroded magnesium outer cover, its engine was rebuilt again in December 2005 by John Hackett at Ducati Coventry at a cost of £3,440 (detailed invoice on file). After the rebuild's completion the Ducati was given a shakedown test at the Kirkistown circuit by Ulster road-racer James Courtney, who rode the machine as 'No.4' in the Ulster Grand Prix Parade on 19th August 2006 (four laps in total). In 2009 the 888 Corsa was reunited with Carl Fogarty at that year's Ulster Grand Prix meeting on 14th/15th August, this being the last occasion it appeared in public.

Offered for sale in the 30th anniversary year of Carl Fogarty's famous North West 200 wins, this historic Ducati 888 Corsa comes with a most substantial history file. The latter contains a copy of the 1993 Coca-Cola International North West 200 Official Souvenir Programme; a printout of race results and lap times; a signed document from Malcolm Wheeler confirming provenance; email and signed documentation from John Hackett confirming provenance and history; copies of magazines featuring the machine; Bonhams' April 2005 Stafford auction catalogue; 2006 Ulster Grand Prix Programme; and a CD-ROM of photographs of Carl Fogarty with the bike and James Courtney riding it.
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