Already firmly established as the premier event on the global historic motor racing calendar, this summer’s Silverstone Classic (29-31 July) will – for the very first time – feature top class bike track action with a dazzling array of past World Champions to the fore.
Attending superstars from the two-wheeled realm will include 1987 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner, triple GP World Champion ‘Fast Freddie’ Spencer and seven-time GP World Champion Phil Read.
“We are thrilled to be broadening the Classic’s appeal still further via the addition of these amazing bikes plus their legendary riders,” said Nick Wigley, CEO of organisers, Goose Live Events. “It’s the first time the Classic has ever served up high-quality two- and four-wheeled racers and to have heroes such as Wayne, Freddie and Phil at Silverstone is going to be just fantastic.”
In total, around ten top bikes from the golden era of GP motorcycle racing will wow the crowds when lapping the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on the Saturday and Sunday. Moreover, the Classic’s widely-praised open paddock policy will also enable visitors to meet and greet the star riders and see their amazing machinery up close.
The impressive motorcycle grid comes from World GP Bike Legends, an organisation set up last year with Gardner as Rider Ambassador to provide fans – both new and old – with an unparalleled experience of watching former Grand Prix stars riding original screaming 2-strokes which were so popular in the eighties and nineties.
“It’s an honour for the bikes to be invited to such an unbelievably successful car event,” admitted the Aussie ace. “We’re putting together a field of 500cc and GP bikes, and Freddie Spencer, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Didier de Radigues, Jose Cardoso have already signed up to be at Silverstone. These bikes will provide a spine-chilling spectacle when they start up and roar past on the straights – it will be an absolutely fantastic show.”
As another crowd-pleaser for motorcycle fans, Triumph will be showcasing an impressive display in the busy infield area. Over the three-day festival, the infield is also home to more than 100 car clubs exhibiting in excess of 10,000 privately-owned classic machines.
General admission tickets give access to all pits, paddock and infield displays as well as an expanded number of trackside grandstands and the majority of the family entertainment including funfair rides and live music concerts from bands such as The Boomtown Rats, Reef and The Stranglers. All tickets must be purchased in advance, and full details – together with information about hospitality packages and weekend festival camping – can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.
