The Goodwood Festival of Speed is one of the biggest social events on the UK’s automotive calendar. The rich and famous arrive from all over the globe to rub shoulders, enjoy fine dining and of course, drive and ride the world’s best machinery. Over the course of a weekend, in the height of the English summer, the world’s most exclusive motorcycles and cars take to the famous 1.16 mile Goodwood hill climb to entertain the doting crowd. With the Festival of Speed celebrating its 25th year anniversary this weekend, we thought we take a look at some of the best motorcycles that will grace the famous hill climb with their presence.
Suzuki RGV500
For sheer emotion, there are very racers that eclipse the popularity of the two-stroke Suzuki RGV500. The bike is synonymous with motorcycle Grand Prix racing throughout the 80s and 90s, a golden age when lanky Texan Kevin Schwantz was Suzuki’s golden boy. With the dawn of a new millennium, the two-stroke engined RGV clung on for one more year until it was eventually replaced by the four-stroke 990cc machines in 2001. This is definitely a bike you wouldn’t want to miss going up the famous 1.16 mile Goodwood hill.
Arch KRGT-1
Arch motorcycles are the brainchild of Hollywood star Keanu Reeves, and the KRGT-1 heading up the hill is the actual bike used in the now famous Super Bowl halftime commercial for website company Square Space. This Arch KRGT-1 is the first machine in the UK. The bike was premiered at EICMA in November last year and Insidebikes’ very own Marc Potter will be taking it up the hill over the weekend.
BMW HP4 Race
There will only be 750 units made of the 215 bhp, carbon fibre framed £68,000 thoroughbred. That’s why it has made our list. We reckon that most of us will only ever get the chance to see these from the wrong side of a velvet rope at a motorcycle show, which is why we’re so looking forward to seeing some lucky so and sos giving it the beans at the Festival of Speed. It might be your only chance to witness one at full chat.
Triumph Moto2 prototype (pictured)
With the Moto2 World Championship moving to a new era from 2019, this will be the opportunity to hear Triumph’s new Moto2 engine in all its glory – being ridden in a Daytona 675-based prototype. The three-cylinder engine will certainly bring a new tone to the grid that fans won’t be used to. The familiar sound of 25 Honda CBR600 engines will be a distant memory when the same number of three-cylinder 765 engines head down to the first corner in Qatar in 2019. Should sound sweet!
MV Agusta 500
Giacomo Agostini is riding his most iconic classic race bike at the Festival of Speed this year. The MV Agusta 500. From 1966-72 ‘Ago’ rode the three-cylinder machine in the 500cc world championship. He was rather successful during this period, so it is a bike that should not be missed. The sound this bike makes is unrivaled and is a must for any motorcycling enthusiast to experience. Make sure you don’t miss this iconic partnership taking to the climb.
As well as the bikes, there will be a host of iconic race stars at Goodwood, including our very own triple superbike world champion Jonathan Rea, TT legends John McGuinness and Ian Hutchinson, and Yamaha superbike icon Noriyuki Haga, who will be joining Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark in a celebration of 20 years of the classic YZF-R1.
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