During the Silverstone Festival by Iconic Auctioneers, two Ducati MotoGP machines sold for a record amount. The 2003 Desmosedici GP3 of Loris Capirossi and the 2007 Desmodedici GP7 of Casey Stoner brought in more than 700,000 euros.
A MotoGP machine up for auction is a rarity in itself, let alone two machines from the same manufacturer and two very special examples, each with a unique story.
The 2003 Desmosedici GP3 is one of the few machines built by Ducati Corse for the 2003 season, the year that the Italians (ridered by Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss) made their debut in MotoGP. And thus an important part of Ducati and MotoGP history.
The machine is powered by a 989cc 90° V4 with desmodromic DOHC valve control and four valves per cylinder, good for a power of more than 220 hp at 16,000 rpm, with Magneti Marelli injection and ignition. Weighing only 145 kilos, the GP3 is good for top speeds of more than 320 km/h
Painted in the iconic Marlboro colours including logo (when tobacco advertising was still allowed) this machine has the designation LC1 and was ridden by Loris Capirossi during the 2003 season. Loris finished the debut season with Ducati in fourth place, while Ducati finished second in the constructors’ championship behind Honda.
In the very first race of the season in Japan at Suzuka, Capirossi made a cracking debut by finishing on the podium. The three races that followed, Capirossi did not see the finish line, but for the third race of the season in Jerez he had qualified on pole position – 1 hundredth of a second ahead of teammate Bayliss.
After three DNFs, Capirossi finished his home race at Mugello on the podium again, this time in second place, before winning the following race in Catalunya – the first ever MotoGP victory for an Italian manufacturer.
In total, Capirossi was allowed to start from pole position no less than 3 times that year (Jerez, Assen and Estoril) and finished on the podium six times (Suzuka, Mugello, Catalunya, Estoril, Phillip Island and Valencia). With 177 points he finished 4th in the championship, 51 points behind Max Biaggi in P3 and 180 points behind Valentino Rossi who won no less than 9 races that year and finished all 16 races on the podium.
The 2007 Desmosedici GP7 heralded a new era in MotoGP, with the introduction of new 800cc machines, where previously the maximum engine capacity had been 990cc. Ducati had prepared best for the new regulations and made a cracking debut with Casey Stoner, winning the first race of the season in Qatar.
Stoner dominated the season (in only his second season in MotoGP and his first in a factory team), winning 10 of the 18 races that year and finishing on the podium 14 times. His worst result was P6 in Japan (the only race that teammate Loris Capirossi won that year).
Remarkably, Stoner qualified on pole position only 5 times that year (Mugello, Sachsenring, Laguna Seca, Brno and Misano), of which he only won the last three. With an impressive 125-point lead over Dani Pedrosa, Stoner became the 2007 MotoGP World Champion with 367 points.
Ducati took the Constructors’ title with 394 points (81 points more than Honda), while the Team title also went to the Ducati Marlboro Team with 533 points. The Repsol Honda team with Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden finished second, 164 points behind.
The 2003 MotoGP Desmosedici GP3 sold for £201,250 (€238,500) at the Silverstone Festival by Iconic Auctioneers. The 2007 MotoGP Desmosedici GP7 sold for a whopping £402,500 (€477,000), making it one of the most expensive motorcycles ever sold at auction.
Mark Bryan, Motorcycle Manager at Iconic Auctioneers:
“We are delighted with the outcome of these two MotoGP bikes sold today and how fitting it is that they are being sold at Silverstone, the home of British MotoGP. They have been sold to an international buyer, which further demonstrates the global reach of our marketing.”
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.