It’s that time of year when racing goes retro and this weekend sees the annual running of the greatest of them all – the Goodwood Revival.
Although mostly a car and memorabilia racing event, bikes again feature prominently with racing stars ranging from Michael Dunlop to Troy Corser, Freddie Spencer and even Dani Pedrosa taking part in the feature, two-race Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy.
Two-riders share a classic machine in each 25-minute race around the famous old Goodwood Circuit in West Sussex and ride machines ranging classic MV Agusta triples to Manx Nortons, Matchless G50s and classic BMWs.
This year Dunlop will be riding a Manx Norton 30M paired with Andy Hornby, MotoGP refugee Pedrosa makes his debut aboard a Paton 500, while multiple-winner Corser will again be riding a BMW R50S.
Other stars taking part include: James Whitham, Steve Parrish, Jeremy McWilliams, Mick Grant, James Haydon, John McGuinness and Steve Plater. Current TT racers are also turning out in force with Peter Hickman, Gary Johnson, James Hiller, Conor Cummins, Davy Todd, Michael Rutter and Lee Johnston all taking part – as are fast ladies Jenny Tinmouth and Maria Costello. See below for the full entry list.
The two-part Memorial Trophy takes part this Saturday and Sunday and begins with a Le Mans start whereby riders run across the track to their waiting machines and includes a compulsory pit-stop.
But there’s also much more to the Revival than star-studded classic bike racing. Held annually since 1998, the Revival is the world’s largest historic motor racing and vintage culture event with around 150,000 people, many in period clothing to give added authenticity, attending over its three days to enjoy its uniquely retro atmosphere thanks not just to the classic bikes and cars but retro events and entertainments, special retro shops and stalls and more all giving off a classic 1940s-‘60s atmosphere.
No |
Year |
Bike |
Riders |
1 |
1966 |
MV Agusta 500/3 |
Ian Simpson, James Whitham |
2 |
1962 |
AJS-Matchless 7R |
Roger Ashby, Howie Mainwaring-Smart |
3 |
1963 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Michael Dunlop, Andy Hornby |
6 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Richard Cooper, Steve Parrish |
7 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Duncan Fitchett, Jeremy McWilliams |
10 |
1964 |
MV Agusta 500/3 |
Mick Grant, Gary Johnson |
11 |
1966 |
BMW Kaczor R50S |
Filip Altendorfer, Troy Corser |
12 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Ian Bain, Steve Brogan |
15 |
1961 |
Matchless G50 |
Derek Bunning, Alex George |
16 |
1962 |
Matchless G50 |
Peter Bardell, James Haydon |
17 |
1961 |
Norton Manx 30M |
James Hiller, Stuart Tonge |
20 |
1965 |
MV Agusta 500/3 |
Silvain Barrier, Barrie Baxter |
22 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Eugene Laverty, Tony Perkins |
25 |
1962 |
Matchless G50 |
Glen English, Richard Molnar |
26 |
1967 |
Hannah-Paton 500 |
Joaquin Folch-Rusinol Jr, Dani Pedrosa |
35 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Keith Bush, Conor Cummins |
37 |
1966 |
Aermacchi Ala d'Oro 408 |
Alan Cathcart, Mark Linton |
39 |
1966 |
Hansen Honda CR450 |
Chris Barfe, Jenny Tinmouth |
45 |
1962 |
Matchless G50 |
John McGuinness, Sebastian Perez |
49 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Dan Cooper, Richard Hann |
50 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
George Thomas, Davey Todd |
51 |
1959 |
BSA Gold Star DBD34 |
Iain Duffus, Fernando Mendes |
52 |
1954 |
BMW RS54 Oskar Leibmann Special |
Maria Costello, Sebastian Gutsch |
67 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Levi Day, Gordon Russell |
68 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Michael Russell, Michael Rutter |
71 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Mark Parrett, Steve Plater |
75 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
John Leigh Pemberton, Scott Smart |
78 |
1966 |
MV Agusta 500/3 |
Lee Johnston, Jon-Boy Lee |
90 |
1962 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Sam Clewis, Peter Hickman |
125 |
1960 |
Norton Manx 30M |
Mike Farrall, Charlie Williams |
The whole event begins this Friday 13th September concluding on Sunday 15th. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are now sold out but Friday tickets, from £59, are still available online.
But even if you can’t make it in person there will again be Goodwood’s own Revival live stream from the event available on the Goodwood Road and Racing YouTube channel while two hour-long highlights programmes are scheduled on ITV4 next Thursday 19th September and Friday 20th, both starting at 8pm.
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