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Donington Classic: Weekend event preview

This weekend, Donington will once again host what has become one of the largest Classic bike events in Europe, The Donington Park Classic Motorcycle Festival, and with a bumper entry of over 500 bikes expected to participate – headed by none other than three-time Grand Prix World Champion Freddie Spencer – it looks set to be a great occasion yet again.

Racing is what the festival is all about, racing like it used to be and the weekend’s action will be chock-full of top quality competition with the machinery dating back as far as the 1950s. Highlights include the FIM Europe Vintage Championships UK round, the fourth rounds of the ACU Classic 500cc Championship and ACU Post Classic 350cc Championship and the Wheatcroft Trophy, set for pre-1986 bikes.

On top of that, the Lansdowne Cup Series will have a round at Donington – featuring Grand Prix machines from the 1950s and 60s – while the Sidecars get in on the action, as they take to the track in the UK round of the Camathias Cup for pre-1972 kit.

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Freddie Spencer is sure to be a huge attraction to the going public at the Classic Festival, as the former World Champion takes to the parades for demonstration laps on a 1985 ‘Rothmans’ Honda RS500R and a recreation of his 1985 Factory Honda RS250 as well as fronting a display of one of his original Two Brothers Racing RC30’s from the 1991 AMA Superbike Season.

Often considered as one of the finest Grand Prix motorcycle riders ever, Spencer, who achieved the stunning feat of winning both the 250 and 500cc World Championship in 1985 is delighted to attend the festival, stating: “I want to thank the organisers for inviting me to be their guest of honour. I greatly respect the history of Donington, I enjoyed racing there at the 1984 Transatlantic Match races but even more important are the great motorcycle fans here in the UK.

“I am so looking forward to the weekend event as well as sharing stories and to talk about the history and traditions of our sport, and a life of motorcycling. This year is the 30th anniversary of my double world titles in 250cc and 500cc in 1985. Being able to accomplish that feat was the perfect example of teamwork.

“I could have never imagined that 30 years later that I would be celebrating this as the only person to have accomplished this feat. It was made possible because of the incredible effort of my crew and the support and dedication of HRC. We did it together!”]

Naturally, the American will prove the star attraction, but there are many more parades over the weekend alongside the racing, with displays 1949 Grand Prix machines – the inaugural season of the FIM World Championship – as well as superbike displays and sidecar taxi rides on the Saturday evening.

Motorcycles made famous on the big screen will also form part of the off track excitement, as well as machines ridden by football legend David Beckham.

The Triumph Bonneville Scrambler bike seen in Jurassic World and ridden by star Chris Pratt, will make its first public appearance at the event. One of only three ever made, this is an ultra-rare machine from what has already become the third highest grossing film of all time.

A 2002 Triumph Bonneville used at the start of Terminator 3 will also be among those on display. The bike was ridden by John Connor out of the desert and comes as seen in the hit movie, while Tom Cruise’s 2006 Bonneville, as used in Mission Impossible 3, will also be available to view.

Bikes made famous by David Beckham will add a touch of glamour to the display. The 2014 Triumph Bonneville ridden by the former England captain in the acclaimed documentary ‘Into the Unknown’ will make an appearance, as will a special machine he rode in the Haig Scotch Whisky advert. The 1962 3TA is one of the most notable six-day trials bikes in existence, famous for winning gold medals in the International Six Days Trial (ISDT) events in 1962, 63, 64 and 65, with riders including Roy Peplow, Ray Sayer and John Giles.

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The displays from the Dick Shepherd Triumph Factory Motorcycle Museum add to the already bustling off-track displays, which will include over 500 machines from the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club in the Exhibition Centre, as well as many more classic and famous racing machinery on display around the venue.

“The Donington Classic Motorcycle Festival is growing every year and is always about much more than just the racing. With this new display, we think that all the off-track showcases are better than ever this year,” said Donington Park Managing Director Christopher Tate.

“These ultra-rare and famous motorbikes Dick Shepherd’s Museum are all very exciting indeed – quite unique motorcycles - and we’re delighted to welcome these to join so many other star bikes and famous racers at the 2015 Festival.”

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