Ducati to auction 2005 MotoGP-winning bike

In an extraordinary move, Ducati has released one of its 2005 MotoGP-winning race bikes for sale by public auction. The Desmosedici GP5 with which Loris Capirossi won the Grand Prix of Malaysia last September will go to auction in Monterey during the weekend of the US GP at Laguna Seca at the 2nd Monterey Classic Bike Auction. One wonders just exactly who might roll up with a chequebook on the day given that the Ducati was the horsepower king of MotoGP in 2005 and both Honda and Yamaha would no doubt love the chance to have a look inside the 190kW (255 bhp) Desmosedici which redlined at 16,550 rpm and regularly topped the best they could build by several km/h at the speedtraps. We are unaware of any precedent for the auction. See the image gallery for images of the actual bike to be auctioned.

The auction will be held at the Portola Plaza Hotel in Monterey during the weekend of the US GP at Laguna Seca, California (July 21-23). Bidders do not have to be onsite to participate, because an online simulcast bidding programme enables prospective buyers to bid in real time at their computer screens from anywhere in the world.