NCR Mike Hailwood TT - Wild File
Mike Hailwood accomplished much before the auto accident that ended his life at age 40 in 1981, winning nine world championships on motorcycles and having a serious go in Formula 1. But to his legions of fans, his greatest achievement was when he returned to bike racing at age 38 to win the 1978 Isle of Man TT on a Ducati.
That significance was not lost on NCR of Italy, which fielded the bike Hailwood raced at the Island. Building on the success of their New Blue replica-patterned after Old Blue, which Cook Nielson rode to victory at Daytona in 1977-NCR constructed this Mike Hailwood TT, which likewise celebrates the 30th anniversary of its namesake's defining moment. Says NCR's Joe Ipoloti, "We got together with the Hailwood Estate and asked, 'What kind of motorcycle do we want to do for the 30th anniversary?' They agreed that we should try to build a bike for Mike if he were alive today. A little bit of nostalgia, but with today's technology."
Source: NCR Mike Hailwood TT - Wild File
Source: NCR Mike Hailwood TT - Wild File
