Photo: Marc VDS Racing Team
Current Moto2 leader Scott Redding got the opportunity of a lifetime, as he was offered to ride the Suzuki RGV500, the same bike Kevin Schwantz rode to World Championship victory at Donnigton Park back in 1994.
Redding took part in the traditional 500GP parade at the annual Bikers'Classic event held in Belgium, at the historic Spa Francorchamps circuit. The event was blessed by the presence of other legendary names in motorcycle road racing, such as Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, Wayne Gardner or Christian Sarron.
Some of these fellows joined Scott on the tarmac of the Spa circuit: Gardner, Sarron and de Radigues. What was a casual parade turned out into a true mini-Grand Prix race, with Redding one second behind 2009 British Supersport champion Steve Plater, who rode a Suzuki RGV500 XR88, in fact Kenny Roberts Jr.'s machine aboard which he finished runner-up to Alex Criville in the 500GP 1999 season.
Redding was impressed by the 135 kg (298 lbs), 195 HP machine, and was amazed by the exce maneuverability, if mentioning the brakes were not as great. “The bike was absolutely amazing. Okay, the brakes weren’t great, but we were expecting that. The handling was incredible because the bike is so light; it was really easy to change direction. It accelerated hard too, with the front coming up in every gear. I didn’t need a rev counter; I just changed up whenever I felt the front wheel was high enough! There was a lot of power, but it was pretty controllable, nothing like the razor sharp powerband I was expecting. It turns like a 125 and was still pulling in sixth. They should bring these back. It was absolutely mega to ride,” Redding added.
Kevin Schwantz' Suzuki is currently owned by Steve Wheatman, a businessman in Northhamptonshire.
Source Marc VDS Racing Team via Faster and Faster.
Some of these fellows joined Scott on the tarmac of the Spa circuit: Gardner, Sarron and de Radigues. What was a casual parade turned out into a true mini-Grand Prix race, with Redding one second behind 2009 British Supersport champion Steve Plater, who rode a Suzuki RGV500 XR88, in fact Kenny Roberts Jr.'s machine aboard which he finished runner-up to Alex Criville in the 500GP 1999 season.
Redding was impressed by the 135 kg (298 lbs), 195 HP machine, and was amazed by the exce maneuverability, if mentioning the brakes were not as great. “The bike was absolutely amazing. Okay, the brakes weren’t great, but we were expecting that. The handling was incredible because the bike is so light; it was really easy to change direction. It accelerated hard too, with the front coming up in every gear. I didn’t need a rev counter; I just changed up whenever I felt the front wheel was high enough! There was a lot of power, but it was pretty controllable, nothing like the razor sharp powerband I was expecting. It turns like a 125 and was still pulling in sixth. They should bring these back. It was absolutely mega to ride,” Redding added.
Kevin Schwantz' Suzuki is currently owned by Steve Wheatman, a businessman in Northhamptonshire.
Source Marc VDS Racing Team via Faster and Faster.
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