Two world classic motorcycle auction records broken at the International Classic MotorCycle Show
John McGuinness MBE and Dean Harrison meet, greet and chat to fans
Barry Sheene’s world championship Suzuki sells for over half a million pounds at Stafford
The International Classic MotorCycle Show, sponsored by Carole Nash, has wrapped its 2026 spring edition at Staffordshire County Showground with a weekend that will take some beating. More than 20,000 visitors attended across the weekend (April 25–26), drawn by more than 1,000 classic machines, 100 motorcycle clubs, over 600 trade stands, the GP Paddock and one of the most extraordinary auction sales in classic motorcycling.
Special guests John McGuinness MBE, 23-time Isle of Man TT winner, and Dean Harrison, multiple TT winner, made personal appearances throughout the weekend, signing autographs, telling tales of the TT and meeting fans.
Emma Bedford, Event Director at Kelsey Media, said: “It was fabulous to bring the best of classic motorcycling together again at Stafford, with more than 20,000 classic bike enthusiasts coming together to celebrate with us. We were honoured to host the record-breaking Bonhams auction, alongside our guest speakers, GP fire-ups, traders, clubs and the Cavalcade. This is an established show with a huge, loyal visitor base and we are excited to start work on the next one in October, where visitors can expect to see some new and exciting features to delight them!”
Enjoy everything More Bikes by reading the MoreBikes monthly newspaper. Click here to subscribe, or Read FREE Online.
Running alongside the show across both days, the Bonhams Spring Stafford Sale produced results that rewrote the record books. The sale achieved a total of £4.208 million, with 100% of lots sold on day one and 96% on day two.
The standout lot was the ex-works 1965 MV Agusta 500cc Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle, ridden by Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini. Estimated at £160,000–£220,000, it sold for £967,000 – a new auction world record for an Italian motorcycle, and the second-highest price ever paid for a motorcycle at auction worldwide.
Barry Sheene’s 1977 World Championship-winning works Suzuki RG500 XR14, which had not been seen in public for nearly 40 years, sold for £506,000 – a new world record for a Japanese motorcycle at auction.
Ben Walker, International Department Director at Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycles, said: “The Bonhams Stafford Sale at the International Classic MotorCycle Show was a landmark event in the bike community that will be remembered by those who attended for years to come. We established two new world records and got very close to the outright world record for the auction sale price of a motorcycle.”
The October Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show
Tickets for The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, sponsored by Carole Nash, taking place on 10–11 October 2026 at Staffordshire Showground, are now on sale at a discounted early bird price at www.tickets.mortonevents.co.uk
