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One-off Rossi Yamaha R1 Bike Up for Grabs Again

The Valentino Rossi-inspired 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1 1000cc, also included in Bonham’s lot for the Classic California event last November, will be going under the hammer again, this time with no reserve. The one-off bike will be offered at Bonhams' third annual motorcycle auction at Quail Lodge on May 14th.

The machine is a customized civilian version of the MotoGP bike campaigned by World Champion Rossi, sporting the Italian’s personal "Five Continents" AGV helmet design.

“Just with improvements the bike's value is nearly $30,000, and that's without the significance of the project and Rossi's involvement,”
Bonhams says.

This is the brainchild of former racing champion and AMA Hall of Famer Don Emde. "Once we got Rossi's blessing, everyone jumped aboard," said Emde. Yamaha Motor Corp. USA donated the brand new stock machine, Aldo Drudi translated the graphics from Rossi's helmet to the R1's special bodywork imported from Italy, Roland Sands donated Ronin wheels, Bridgestone added BT-003 tires, Ohlins gave suspension, Akrapovic provided exhaust, EBC did brakes, and the list goes on – Vortex, Goodridge, Dynojet, etc.

The motorcycle is personally autographed by Rossi. It will be presented in "track day" trim but it is fully street legal and will be offered with all the necessary accessories and California title. On top of that, Yamaha will donate a day at the Yamaha Champions Riding School for the winning bidder.

The sale will benefit Riders For Health, a charitable organization that brings life-saving medicines to people in remote areas of Africa by way of motorcycles.

The Bonhams sale of "Collectors' Motorcycles and Related Memorabilia" will take place on Saturday, May 14th at the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, California.
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