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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BIKE STOLEN IN SOUTHAMPTON |
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Saturday, 03 June 2006 |
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BIKE STOLEN IN SOUTHAMPTON
Callous
thieves have broken into the Nursling head office of Bike-It
International and made off with a priceless motorbike – which was set
for a starring role in next month’s British Motocross Grand Prix in
Hampshire.
The stolen Yamaha motorbike was on display in the
foyer of Bike-It International, which is the title sponsor of the
Yamaha UK team and Bike-It Promotions, a subsidiary of Bike-It
International, is the organisation behind the high profile British
Motocross Grand Prix which is due to be held on June 17/18 at a brand
new venue in Winchester.
Organisers of the British MXGP are
devastated at the theft of this irreplaceable bike and Steve Dixon from
Bike-It Promotions has appealed for any help in finding the bike.
“The
1997 Yamaha YZ 125 bike was to be exhibited at the exciting two day
event in June and was to be the centrepiece at the Motocross lunchtime
procession through Southampton on Thursday June 15,’’ said Steve. “We
just want it back in its rightful place.’’
The motorbike has a
significant history, it was the bike which World Class rider Paul Malin
rode when he won the British 125 championship in 1997. Paul rode for
the Yamaha team for seven years and the 1997 championship was one of
his last competitive 125 races. A complete one off bike, the Yamaha has
been preserved in immaculate showroom condition since the last time it
was ridden, nine years ago.
The burglary, which took place in
the early hours of Friday morning, is being investigated by the police,
who arrived within minutes of the alarm sounding at the head office.
Detectives are currently checking security CCTV footage in the hope it
will lead them to the thieves.
Steve Dixon added: “Security is
incredibly important for us and to have this bike stolen is
devastating. The sentimental value attached to it is hard to believe,
having been the winning bike nearly 10 years ago in the 1997 British
Motocross Grand Prix championship. The bike just cannot be replaced.”
Despite
the loss of the Yamaha Steve said that plans are well advanced for the
British Motocross Grand Prix at Matterley Basin, just off the A31 at
Winchester – and a stand would still be built for the Yamaha in the
hope that thieves return the bike.
For tickets and full details of the British MXGP at Matterley Basin near Winchester, log onto the website at www.06mx.com.
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