Ex-Cadbury's Boost, c.1996 Yamaha YZF750 Superbike Racing Motorcycle

• Factory-prepared Cadbury's Boost Yamaha YZF750 SP
• Campaigned in the British Superbike Championship, 1996–1998
• As ridden by Mackenzie, Whitham, Walker and Hislop during the team's title-winning era
• Later raced by Nigel Nottingham in the 1999 British Sportbike Championship
• Offered with Cadbury's Yamaha engine sheets, paperwork, magazine article, and extensive spares

The Cadbury's Boost Yamaha team was one of the dominant forces in 1990s Superbike racing, taking three consecutive British Superbike Championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998 with their factory-prepared YZF750 SPs. With its vivid purple-and-gold livery, a line-up of top British riders, and full factory backing, the Cadbury's squad became one of the most successful and memorable teams of the decade.

At the heart of the team was Niall Mackenzie, one of Britain's most successful ever Superbike riders. After a career in Grand Prix racing, Mackenzie returned home to dominate the British Superbike Championship, securing an unprecedented hat-trick of titles for Cadbury's Yamaha between 1996 and 1998. His smooth, clinical riding style and relentless consistency made him the perfect team leader, and ensured Cadbury's place at the top of the standings for three straight seasons.

Alongside him, James Whitham brought both speed and charisma, and was already well-established as a leading figure in both World and British Superbikes. Chris Walker, then at the dawn of his career, earned his 'Stalker' nickname with his aggressive, crowd-pleasing riding and was a key part of the team's campaign in 1997. By 1998, the legendary Steve Hislop - 11-time TT winner and 1995 BSB Champion - had joined the Cadbury's ranks, adding further star power and scoring four race wins and 12 podiums that year to finish 3rd in the championship. Together, this line-up represented a golden generation of British Superbike talent.

The machine offered here, frame 'YM 01' with engine 'OW 04', is one of the team's factory-prepared Cadbury's Superbikes. Unlike the production-based YZF750 SP homologation models, these works bikes were built using factory-only parts and upgrades, including heavily braced frames and bespoke engine preparation. Frame 'YM 01' is hand-engraved in line with the team's practice of marking works frames.

While it is not possible to definitely say who rode this particular machine, the original Cadbury's Yamaha engine data sheets on file confirm partial competition history of engine 'OW 04'. One sheet notes its use at a WSB round at Donnington Park (undated), while another, first dated February 1997, charts its deployment across multiple BSB rounds that season: Donington Park (23 February), Oulton Park (23–25 April), Snetterton (7–9 May), Donington Park (29–31 May), Silverstone (18–20 June), and Oulton Park (16–18 July). Such documentation provides rare and valuable evidence of the engine's frontline use during the team's title-winning campaigns.

After the Cadbury's team moved on to the Yamaha R7 at the end of 1998, this machine was acquired by privateer Nigel Nottingham, who campaigned it in the 1999 British Sportbike Championship in CEM colours. Nigel has owned the bike ever since, keeping it for 25 years inside his home and workshop, and maintaining it with the help of his original mechanic. The Cadbury's livery was refinished by the renowned Dream Machine paint shop.

Accompanying the machine is a file including a hand-written letter from Nigel Nottingham; original Cadbury's Yamaha annotated engine sheets for engine '04'; a period Performance Bikes magazine article; a large and generous selection of spare parts including crankshafts, pistons, clutch and gearbox components, valves, and more.

Presented in 1997 Cadbury's livery, this is not a replica but one of the original, factory-prepared Cadbury's Boost Yamahas campaigned by Mackenzie, Whitham, Walker and Hislop during the team's all-conquering run in the British Superbike Championship. A true icon of 1990s racing, and sister machine to the ex-Hislop example sold by Bonhams in 2021, it represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the defining Superbikes of its generation.
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