Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/949962
VEE TWO HAILWOOD DUCATI P110 Feature (meaning 'comeback' in Italian) engine is an exact copy of the 883cc 90-degree bevel- drive desmo V-twin that carried Hailwood to his historic 1978 race victory. Internally, though, the motor will host a full complement of Vee Two's evolutionary upgrades, mean- ing power output will be much higher than the original engine's 86 peak horsepower, delivered at 9000 rpm. The engine is already in production, and in racing guise has twice finished second in AHRMA's Formula 750 class race events here in America, as well as forming the basis of the acclaimed Vee Two Imola Evo café racer street bike. While agreeing on the appearance and technical specifications of a Hailwood Replica may at first seem straightforward, the original bike was altered numerous times during the two-week period of the 1978 TT, and any number of combinations could be considered "the real thing." "So many changes to the chassis, engine and exhaust system were made during the event that photographs from the day reveal numerous variations practically from one day to another." says Brook Henry, Vee Two's CEO. "We aim to produce an exact replica of the bike as it crossed the finishing line." To help achieve this, Henry also reveals that Vee Two will draw on the expertise of Steve Wynne, the man responsible for sourc- ing the original 900 F1 from the factory, and preparing it for the race under the Sports Motorcycles banner. "Being able to ask Steve about things we spot in photographs, and have him separate myth from fact, is very exciting," says Henry. "It's very good to have him on board to en- sure that each bike we build can legitimately be termed a genuine replica." Furthermore, Mike Hailwood's widow Pauline and son David have both granted approval to use his famous name, and in recognition of this THE FAMOUS WIN Following a seven-year break from top-line motorcycle racing, in 1977 Hailwood was approached by Steve Wynne who suggested he should come out of retirement for the '78 TT and race a Ducati. To Wynne's surprise, Hailwood agreed. In practice, the then 38-year-old Hailwood set a new lap record of 111 mph, then went on to claim what is surely one of the greatest comeback victories in sporting history. This will be commemorated by the creation of Vee Two Australia of the 12 as-yet-unnamed identical copies of his race-winning bike. Although Vee Two has already bestowed the Ritorno moniker upon the engine, Andrew Cathcart says the Vee Two-built Replica TT racer hasn't yet been officially named. "Mike Hailwood Replica is something of an over-used title," he admits. "Internally we're just calling it 'The Hailwood,' though we'll settle on a name soon. But it's important to stress that Vee Two Australia is making a replica of Mike Hailwood's TT-winning 900 F1 racer, not a copy of the Ducati Mike Hailwood Replica streetbike, which was essentially merely a production 900SS fitted with red-and-green bodywork. Ducati's original plans were to produce just 200 units, but in fact they ended up manufacturing more than 7000 examples of the so-called Hailwood replica look-a-likes. Ours will be identical copies of the genuine race-winner which is now owned by Larry Auriana in the USA, and which Steve Wynne maintains for him." The as-yet undisclosed price of such exclusivity is understood to be in the region of $140,000. Hailwood at Parliament Square Ramsey in the victorious 1978 TT ride.