Two TT winning bikes have failed to sell at an auction in the UK when neither reserve price was met.

Mick Grant’s 1982 Suzuki 998cc XR69 and a 1956 MV Agusta 125cc Bialbero which won the 1956 ’125’ TT were both reserved at £100,000 at Bonhams 2019 Spring Stafford Sale.

The lack of sale is despite interest in both bikes and Grant’s Suzuki on which he set lap records believed to be able to fetch up to £120,000.

Mr Grant spoke to the auction house before the sale and said the bike has been in his possession since he was given it by Suzuki when he retired from racing in 1985 and is the specification he used for racing.

He added: ’For some reason my bike seems to be the best specification of them all. It has a dry clutch, magnesium carburettors, billet forks, twin sparking plugs, etc.

’I only know of two others that still exist, one is an ex-Roger Marshall bike with a collector in Ireland, and the other is an early twin-shock XR built for Graham Crosby.

’This machine is in very good mechanical and working condition. In the last few years I’ve demonstrated this machine in South Africa and at Oliver’s Mount, Spa Francorchamps, Brands Hatch, Mallory Park, etc.

’It is a lovely bike to ride and still feels as fresh as when I was racing it. On this bike I had lap records and second places in the Isle of Man. I won the North West 200 on it, set the lap record Donington Park and was second in the Macau GP.’

The 1956 MV Agusta 123.5cc Bialbero Racing bike, riden by legendary Italian racer Carlo Ubbiali, won that year’s 125 TT race, .

He also won win six out of that year’s seven World Championship events in the ’125’ class, including the Italian National Championship, losing only to fellow Italian Romolo Ferri in the German Grand Prix.

Nine times a world champion between 1951 and 1960, Ubbiali also achieved five TT wins during that time. Four on the Clypse Course and one victory on the Mountain Course.