The Lot is from outside the UK. Shippio Ltd must automatically uplift this Lot after the auction, complete all post sale import or export customs administration, and store this Lot until it is customs cleared. A compulsory fee of £350 + VAT will be added to the buyer's invoice for this. This Lot cannot be collected from the auction venue by the purchaser or any alternative transporter.

If the Lot is to stay in the UK or is not exported within 90 days of sale, Import VAT at 5% on the hammer price is payable.

Although Suzuki withdrew from Grand Prix racing in 1967, importers and privateers continued to fly the Hamamatsu marque's flag by racing modified road bikes. The factory too went down this route, dipping its toe back in competitive waters by introducing an over-the-counter racer based on the new T500 Cobra roadster (known as the Titan in the USA). Air-cooled to begin with, like its roadster progenitor, the TR500, coded XR05 by the factory, first made an impact on the American scene in 1968 when works riders Ron Grant and Mitsuo Itoh finished 4th and 9th respectively at that year's Daytona meeting. Over the next few seasons power was progressively increased from an initial 63.5 to 71.5bhp, in which form the TR500 had a top speed in excess of 150mph.

In 1971 the TR500 made its European debut, still in air-cooled form, and was ridden during that season by Dutchman Rob Bron, Australian Jack Findlay and New Zealander Keith Turner. Turner finished 2nd, Bron 3rd and Findlay 5th in that year's 500cc World Championship, Findlay claiming the honour of giving Suzuki its first Grand Prix victory in the premier class with a win in Ulster.

Spurred on by the success of the air-cooled twin in tuned form, the factory developed a water-cooled version, the XR05 II, for 1973. As well as the water-cooled top end, the XR05 II featured larger carburettors and triple disc brakes, while some of the works bikes used six-speed gearboxes. Power went up to 73bhp and the maximum speed rose to 157mph.

The factory's effort in the World Championship was run by the Suzuki Europa Racing Team, which had been set up by the Italian Suzuki importer, SAIAD. Works rider Findlay won the Isle of Man Senior TT on his way to 5th place overall in the '73 World Championship, a highly creditable achievement on what was still a roadster-based machine.

The final development of the XR05 - the III - featured revised cylinders, with a squarer external profile, and laid-down rear suspension. In truth. though, this last XR05 was only an interim model raced pending the arrival, in 1974, of the four-cylinder RG500.

We are advised that Barry Sheene used the TR500 III offered here for domestic races during the 1974 season having raced Seeley-framed TR500s for Suzuki GB in 1971 and 1973. For 1974, Barry had three separate contracts: with Suzuki USA for races in North America; Suzuki GB for UK events; and Suzuki Japan, specifically charged with developing the new RG500 (XR14) four-cylinder Grand Prix racer. Riding this TR500, Barry won the 1974 Shellsport Championship. Racing under the Suzuki GB Team Castrol banner, he contested six of the championship's 11 rounds, winning at Mallory Park on 14th April, Oulton Park on 15th April and Brands Hatch on 27th May, and finishing 2nd at Mallory Park on 15th September and Brands Hatch on 27th October. Barry ended the 1974 season Shellsport Champion with 39 points to runner-up Tony Rutter's 26. Barry's team-mate Stan Woods finished 5th overall.

Stan Woods kept 'his' TR500 for 1975 while Barry's was given to Suzuki GB's new recruit John Newbold, who campaigned the increasingly uncompetitive twin in Grands Prix with inevitably little success. Highlights of Newbold's year were 2nd place in the Belgian GP at Spa Francorchamps; 4th place in the Dutch TT at Assen; and a win at the season-closing international meeting at Brands Hatch, although all those results were achieved on the new RG500. His only other points-paying World Championship finish (with the TR500) was 7th place at the Grand Prix des Nations in Italy. He ended the season 8th in the 500cc World Championship. Quoted in Ray Battersby's book, Team Suzuki, Newbold said: "I was riding it (the XR05) better afterwards. I'd got some points in the Championship so I thought I'd better do as well as I could."

So far it has not proved possible to uncover the subsequent ownership trail of this TR500, which is offered from an important overseas private collection. A wonderful opportunity for the serious collector to acquire a rare and highly sought after Japanese works racing motorcycle with in-period competition history.

It should be noted that the screen is damaged and will need to be replaced. Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the track and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's completeness, history, authenticity, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding.
Key not required