Ex-Mark Forsyth, Battle of The Twins,1991 Ducati 888cc '851 Superbike Racing'

Frame no. ZDM888S.000780 Engine no. ZDM888W4.00796

• Ex-Mark Forsyth, 'Battle of The Twins'
• One of only 50 1991 models produced
• Purchased directly from Mark Forsyth
• Ducati letter of authenticity

Representing a rare opportunity to acquire a genuine Ducati '851 Superbike Racing', this machine is one of the batch of 50 such race bikes built by Ducati Corse for the 1991 season, in which the '851 Superbike Racing' was ridden in the World Superbike Championship by top privateers such as Stephane Mertens, Manfred Fischer, and Carl Fogarty. The price new in 1991 was £25,000 - approximately £50,000 in today's money - and machines were made available to selected racing customers only.

Although quite different from Polen's factory bike of 1991, the '851 Superbike Racing' was a faithful replica of Raymond Roche's 1990 WSBC-winning '888' and is also known as the 'Roche Replica' (the '851' badging was intended to convince the paying spectator that the bike was identical to the road version). This example comes with written confirmation from Ducati that it is an '851 Superbike Racing' completed on 21st December 1990.

Ridden by Mark Forsyth in the UK 'Battle of The Twins' (BoTT) series, this machine has competed in only 12 races in its history. Mark Forsyth finished 2nd on it in the 1991 BoTT series having won four rounds and finished 2nd in the remaining races, taking six lap records in the process. He qualified in 2nd place at the Donington round of the UK Superbike Supercup - ahead of the factory Norton rotaries - and also at the Knockhill Jock Taylor meeting ahead of Niall McKenzie, Rob McElnea, Jamie Whitham, Trevor Nation, and Ron Haslam. The engine was rebuilt by Mark Wycherley at the end of the 1991 season, since when the Ducati has done six laps of Donington Park at a track day in 1998 and 15 laps of Croft in 1999.

When purchased from Mark Forsyth by the current vendor in 2004, the Ducati came with a quantity of spares, some of which have been fitted. These include the radiator, new-old-stock wheels, a fairing panel, handlebar grips, and the brake and clutch fluid reservoirs. Some minor repairs were made to the bodywork using the resin infusion process, following which the panels were repainted; original decals were obtained and the 1991 BoTT livery has been reinstated.

The Ducati has been stored in a heated garage, the engine being regularly started and warmed up (video available), with fluids flushed through. Mark Forsyth had removed the seat's rear cushion, which is included in the sale together with the original factory paddock stands, some tools, and various other spare parts. Beautiful to look at and powerfully evocative of its era, this rare and desirable Ducati superbike racer is offered with a history file containing magazine articles, race results sheets, and the purchase receipt signed by Mark Forsyth.