Two-Wheel Goodies for the Festival of Speed 2010

This year’s Festival of Speed on July 2-4 is expected to bring together a record number of competition motorcycles and many world champions, Goodwood announced today. The Viva Veloce, The Passion for Speed theme will be celebrated by a selection of great Italian machines and riders, including 15-time World Champion Giacomo Agostini.

Bikes include the ex-Phil Read 1974 MV Agusta 500/4, the Cagiva C591 of Eddie Lawson and ex-Loris Capirossi Ducati GP5 ‘Desmosedici’.

Current World Superbike Championship leader Leon Haslam will also be in attendance, as will reigning British Superbike Champion Leon Camier. They will be joined by two-time World Champion James Toseland and Tom Sykes.

Exceptional machines from the Formula 750 era, the WSVBK predecessor, are also expected to be displayed, including the ex-Patrick Pons 1979 Yamaha 750 TZ Sonauto, the ex-Randy Mamola 1977 Yamaha TZ 750 and the Rouen-winning Triumph Trident of Ron Chandler.

The action-packed experience will feature the Red Bull X-Fighters freestyle motocross riders performing around the Goodwood Cricket Pitch on a purpose-built course.

Twelve-time World Trials Champion Dougie Lampkin will also be making a much anticipated return to the Festival of Speed, riding his Beta EVO over, through or on all manner of obstacles. Moreover, Irish stunt rider and recent BMW Motorrad UK signing Mattie Griffin will be making his Goodwood debut performing amazing tricks on the hillclimb.

However, one of the most anticipated events of the festival is the world public debut of the world’s most expensive and powerful road-going motorcycle, namely the 250 bhp Icon Sheene superbike, due to be ridden by Barry Sheene’s son Freddie.