Ex-Team Servisco; Fabbio Biliotti, 1987 Honda RS500 Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle

•Raced by Italian privateer Fabbio Biliotti
•In-period Grand Prix history
•Offered with a set of original bodywork

Following the embarrassing debacle of the NR500, an oval-piston four-cylinder four-stroke that was supposed to bring Honda parity with the two-strokes then dominating Grand Prix racing's 500cc class, the Japanese firm swallowed its corporate pride and went down the stroker path for 1982. Rivals Yamaha and Suzuki had been running four-cylinder 500s for years, so it surprised the pundits when Honda's new contender turned out be a three-cylinder, and one with reed-valve induction rather than the disc valves favoured by everyone else. Although less powerful than the fours, the NS triple was lighter, more manoeuvrable, and possessed higher corner speed, so on some circuits could expect to have the advantage. As it happened, it wasn't that much slower at the top end either, a works rider Freddie Spencer's win (his first) at the fast Spa Francorchamps circuit demonstrated. Boasting an aluminium frame for 1983 (introduced mid-1982) the NS500 proved good enough to bring Spencer his first World Championship in the 500cc class. The factory ran an all-new V4 for Spencer in 1984, though many believe they should have stuck with the tried-and-tested triple, which by this time had been made available to customers as the RS500.

Born in Arrezzo in Tuscany, Fabbio Biliotti first competed in the FIM World Championship in 1981 riding a Suzuki RG500. He continued to campaign the Suzuki in 1982 and 1983, before switching halfway through the '83 season to the alloy-framed Honda RS500. He continued competing as a privateer in 1984, his best result (and only points-scoring finish) being 9th place in Spain. In 1985 he rode for Team Italia on the second-generation RS500, switching in 1987 to the latest beam-frame version of the RS500 under the Team Servisco banner. He competed throughout 1987 and 1988 but scored only four points (in 1988). His last season of Grand Prix racing was 1989.

The machine is offered finished in 'Freddie Spencer' colours (with tank signed by him) and comes with a set of Biliotti's Team Servisco bodywork.